Melbourne and Palm Bay consider Brightline ‘quiet zones’

Leaders of two Brevard County cities say they are considering implementing “quiet zones” at Brightline crossings in their jurisdictions.

Of the four municipalities in the county where trains pass through, Melbourne has the most level crossings, at 16.

Leaders in Melbourne and Palm Bay are now looking at what they can do in those areas to reduce noise from high-speed passenger trains, which pass through them 32 times a day.

Eula and Clovis Bass have lived in their Melbourne home for over 60 years.

They enjoy gardening and tending their garden, but right behind their house are train tracks that cross the city from north to south.

And since Brightline launched passenger service between Orlando and South Florida, it’s claimed that even more trains are using the tracks than before. Eula said it was something they were getting used to.

“I try to look at them through the windows and see if anyone is sitting in them,” she said.

It’s the horns of approaching trains that are the problem, Clovis said.

“There’s a reason, but if the sleepers work, I don’t see the need for it,” he said.

Melbourne and Palm Bay are considering quiet zones at their level crossings, limiting locomotive horns as they pass.

They must be at least 1/2 mile long and include at least one level crossing on a public road.

“And so overall, we meet all the requirements,” Palm Bay Public Works Director Frank Watanabe told the City Council at a recent workshop. “I’ve already spoken and met with our federal inspector. He says we have those qualifications. I’ve already run what’s called a quiet zone calculator, so whatever we do then, if we want to go from there The first step is to write a notice and start the process.

Melbourne Mayor Paul Alfrey said he intended to “continue to look for quiet areas – we are in the process of upgrading our crossings and once those are completed, which is a necessary condition for a calm zone, we will continue to move forward. is a quality of life for many of our residents.

He said the improvements would be funded by a federal grant.

Cities will have to demonstrate the safety measures in place that would make horns unnecessary.

In a quiet zone, engineers are not legally required to honk their horns, but can use discretion during emergency situations, such as when a vehicle or person is on the tracks.

Several other South Florida cities have already implemented quiet zones, while others are exploring the possibility.