Road Closure Alert for Railroad Quiet Zone Project

TYLER — Today, the City of Tyler will permanently close North Border Avenue at the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) track between the St. James Church and the Tyler Water Utility Business Office. This closure is part of the Quiet Zone Initiative the City Council approved at its regularly scheduled meeting on Oct. 27, 2010, that eventually will partially eliminate the blowing of whistles by trains passing through the City of Tyler. Once the quiet zone is completed, passing trains would only blow their whistle when the engineer spots an obstruction on the track. This will decrease the deafening noise from train horns experienced by the adjacent property owners.

To apply to the railroad for a quiet zone, the stretch of track must have gates at each street grade crossing. The gates serve as physical warning devices which the flashing lights cannot accomplish alone. Currently, the two crossings in the city limits which do not have gates are Claude Street and North Palace Avenue. Union Pacific will not allow gates to be placed at both of these crossings due to their close proximity to each other. Consequently, Claude Street will eventually be closed.

The crossing at Border Avenue currently has gates and cabinets for housing the batteries and electronics. The crossing is being closed, and the expensive railroad equipment will be moved to Palace Avenue to meet the requirement of a gate at each crossing.