Back


Woodbridge News

Print this Page

Program is Part of Township-Wide Effort to Reduce Excessive Train Noise and Provide for Safer Vehicle Crossings at Train Tracks… 

WOODBRIDGE –  Woodbridge Township Mayor John E. McCormac and First Ward Councilman Charles Kenny today announced that the first phase of a Township-wide project to establish “Quiet Zones” at priority roadway/railroad crossings is moving forward with the approval of a feasibility study.  The Feasibility Study, unanimously approved on January 16 by the Municipal Council, targets rail crossings located in Sewaren.

Mayor McCormac and First Ward Councilman Kenny, along with Township Council President Brenda Velasco, Councilwoman Patricia Osborne, and Third Ward Councilman Greg Bedard, have placed a high priority on efforts to reduce Township-wide train noise and air pollution in residential areas and to provide for safer vehicle and pedestrian crossings.

“The feasibility study is a huge step forward and will allow us to fully determine the extent of loud and continuous train whistles that impact the quality of life for residents living along railroad right-of-ways throughout the Township,” said Mayor McCormac.  “This study will tell us where the problems are and will provide a cost estimate for the improvements needed to establish ‘Quiet Zones’ at the problem crossings.”

Councilman Kenny said, “once the Quiet Zones are established, extended blasts from train whistles will decrease and should provide less disruption to area residents.  Additionally, Township health inspectors will continue to monitor train activity in Sewaren and the Woodbridge Police Department will work to limit train and rail activity blocking Woodbridge Avenue and other vehicle/rail crossings.”

According to Township officials, the feasibility study and report will be conducted by Maser Consultants, a professional engineering firm with extensive experience in engineering and developing “Quiet Zones.”  The feasibility study, at a cost of $4.000, will review existing railroad crossings located at the Conrail Port Reading Line rail-at grade crossings located at Amboy Avenue, Rahway Avenue, Blair Avenue, and Woodbridge Avenue in Sewaren.

As part of the study, Township inspectors and consulting engineers will gather information about track and crossing jurisdiction (municipal, county, state or federal), existing track and grade conditions and equipment such as warning devices, lights and gates.  The feasibility study and report will be followed by a priority schedule to establish “Quiet Zones” at the designated crossing locations.

Mayor McCormac said the administration and Municipal Council are pursing the establishment of “Quiet Zones” as allowed by federal regulation.  The federal Railroad Administration established the “use of locomotive horns at highway-rail grade crossings” in 2005.  The regulation requires trains to sound a locomotive horn at all public crossings for at least 15 seconds before entering the crossing.  The regulation also created a “Quiet Zone” provision upon installation of safety measures which comply with the federal regulatory process.

Mayor McCormac noted that the “Quiet Zone” study is part of a larger effort to reduce excessive train noise and air pollution related to railroad operations throughout the Township.  The Administration and Council have held extensive meetings with representatives from Conrail and Norfolk Southern railroads, and Motiva Enterprises located in Sewaren, to address concerns of area residents.  As a result of the meetings, Township officials are in the final stages of obtaining agreements that will work to reduce the late-night/early-morning movement of trains at the Motiva facility, the staging of trains and tanker cars along certain sections of track in Sewaren and Port Reading, and revised operation schedules for Conrail and Norfolk Southern trains moving through Woodbridge.

Third Ward Councilman Bedard noted that train-related noise, air pollution, and similar issues are increasingly of concern to Port Reading residents.  “Complaints regarding excessive train noise, pollution, and congested highway crossings due to stopped trains are an issue in Port Reading and elsewhere in the Third  Ward,” Councilman Bedard said.