Quiet Zones

Erdman Anthony provided scoping, preliminary engineering, final design, and construction-phase services for the establishment of two new quiet zones along the heavily traveled CSXT Buffalo Terminal Subdivision and Norfolk Southern Lake Erie District. The parallel quiet zones were the first post-rule quiet zones established in New York state.

Project features included preparation of the design report, contract drawings, and specifications for the improvement of 10 grade crossings on five public roads; use of a relatively low-cost traffic separator system on rehabilitated pavement as an alternative to a median barrier and significantly more expensive wayside horns or four-quadrant gates; and extensive coordination with CSX and Norfolk Southern to renew grade-crossing surfaces and upgrade signals at four of the crossings under a separate contract.

The Town of Hamburg gave a “very satisfied” rating of Erdman Anthony’s work in all categories on its client satisfaction survey and commented that “Construction bids came in below engineer’s estimate, and there were no change orders during engineering or construction.”

The completed quiet zones have improved the quality of life for over 20,000 town residents, seven schools, and numerous parks and recreation areas located within hearing range of the grade crossings.