Railroad quiet zone would cost about $2 million

Salem officials may take issue to a referendum

By Gail Peckler-Dziki
Correspondent

There are nine railroad crossings within the Town of Salem that need to be upgraded in order to become train horn-free quiet zones.

Eight of them are at 76th Street; Highway AH/276th Ave; 272nd Avenue; 258th Avenue; 104th Street; 264th Avenue; Highway C/Wilmot Road; and Highway JF/119th Street.

The first four would require four-quadrant gates, which are two gates on each side to prevent any car from crossing once the gates have come down.

The next four require non-traversable channelized medians. These must extend 100 feet on the road from the crossing. Since the first four have either driveways or other roads intersecting them within that 100 feet, the four-quadrant gate is needed.

The railroad crosses one private road at 100th Avenue, which would require flashing lights and gates, one per approach.

Town Administrator Pat Casey and Town Engineer Len Roeker have worked on the study and Casey said at the March 21 Committee of the Whole meeting that the improvements would cost the town about $2 million.

The board discussed ways to pay for the project. The cost could be spread throughout the town, with the additional amount put on property tax bills. That would add $270 per parcel.

There could be a special assessment for those living within a quarter mile of the tracks, which would be at a cost of $2,125 per parcel.

Trustee Dennis Faber lives close to the intersection on Highway AH in Camp Lake and commented that when he moved there 30 years ago, there were 23 trains a week and now there are 30 a day.

“Thanks for digging into this,” Faber said to Casey. “We have had a number of requests for this over the past few years.”

Trustee Mike Culat, who has a real estate business in Antioch, Ill., said that he thought those who attend the public hearings regarding this issue should make the decision of how to pay.

“We should pay attention to those who show up and the public hearings and informational meetings,” he stated.

Faber said he preferred a referendum to be scheduled for the November presidential election.

“The taxpayers need to decide what they would like to do,” he said.

Culat commented that he believed having quiet crossing would improve the resale value of properties along the railroad tracks.

The plan is to hold a public hearing first and then an informational meeting. The information will be sent out via the town newsletter, press releases and then letters to those within a quarter mile of the tracks.


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