The second Railroad Quiet Zone in Richmond, West One Quiet Zone, goes into effect today, July 15, 2006. This is the West Richmond Avenue grade crossing in Point Richmond.

Under the Quiet Zone rules, BNSF can no longer sound a horn as a warning before crossing West Richmond Avenue. They can, however, still use the horn within their yard to signal start ups from a stopped position (two longs for forward and three shorts for backward)

The first Richmond Quiet Zone, North Quiet Zone, went into effect at the grade crossings at Giant Road and Atlas Road in February of 2006. Previous experience with BNSF indicates that they will observe the Quiet Zone grudgingly at best, and it will be up to the public to hold their feet to the fire by scrupulously reporting violations.

A form is attached to report Quiet Zone violations. The form can also be used to report trains that are blocking West Richmond Avenue during prohibited times (11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and between 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.) and trains that block the West Richmond Avenue crossing in excess of 10 minutes. Both of these are prohibited

The Quiet Zone does not yet cover grade crossings at Garrard, Cutting or Canal, although it is anticipated that these (West Two Quiet Zone) will go into effect later this year.

The establishment of Quiet Zones has been a long an arduous task, fought tooth and nail by BNSF and with little help for the Federal Railroad Administration, which is supposed to enforce the Quiet Zones. Thanks goes to the dogged determination of Assistant City Attorney Wayne Nishioka, City Engineer Rich Davidson and to the Quiet Zone Volunteer Team, Cochise Potts, Fred Arm, Louis Hagler and Terry Goode.