SMART to sound train horns in Petaluma again over city’s objection

Officials at the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit Authority said engineers will resume blowing horns in Petaluma today, escalating a dispute over a so-called quiet zone the city implemented 11 days ago to dampen the noise.

SMART ceased the routine sounding of horns at most Petaluma crossings April 21 while continuing to express concerns to state and federal transportation authorities that the city’s actions violated federal law and placed public safety at risk.

The Federal Railroad Administration responded Monday by notifying SMART that it needed to resume blowing the horns, according to Farhad Mansourian, the rail agency’s general manager. Mansourian said the FRA has “nullified” Petaluma’s quiet zone.

That would be a sharp reversal for the federal rail agency, which for weeks has maintained Petaluma has met all the requirements to implement the restrictions. An FRA spokesman Monday would not confirm Mansourian’s account, saying the agency would reserve comment until today.

Petaluma city officials Monday disputed that their quiet zone was no longer is in place.

“That would be news to Petaluma if true,” City Councilman Michael Healy stated in an email.

Petaluma became the first city in Sonoma and Marin counties to implement quiet zones governing train horns. The restrictions span eight of the city’s public rail crossings, limiting engineers from sounding horns except in certain circumstances, including when a vehicle, person or animal is on the track or when crossing gates are not functioning.

One of the city’s quiet-zone eligible crossings at Caulfield Lane was exempted from the rules for now because SMART said that crossing needs more work.

But the latest turn of events apparently is over a rail crossing on private property at Cedar Park Grove, off Lakeville Street in downtown Petaluma. An FRA representative last Thursday notified city officials they erred by not including that crossing in the city’s notice to establish its quiet zone. The FRA official demanded the city update its notice.

The ultimate outcome potentially carries impact well beyond the Petaluma city limits.

Every city and county jurisdiction in the two counties is at various stages of implementing quiet zones. SMART trains are being tested along the initial ?43-mile line from north Santa Rosa to downtown San Rafael, with passenger service currently timed to late spring.

SMART appeared to back down in its dispute with Petaluma following a hastily convened closed session at its April 19 board of directors meeting. Two days later, train engineers began abiding by Petaluma’s quiet zone.

SMART directors acted in part out of concern about the rail agency being slapped with fines of up to $7,500 for each horn blast in violation of a quiet zone. But the agency insists its main concern is public safety.

Windsor Mayor Deb Fudge, chairwoman of SMART’s board, pleaded for the community to show patience, saying SMART is “so close” to starting passenger service.

She said train engineers should continue blowing horns until SMART is “absolutely positive we are the safest railroad in the nation.”

The dust-up also has drawn in the California Public Utilities Commission, which last week wrote Petaluma officials expressing concerns about a “serious incident” should horns not sound while testing of trains and crossings is ongoing.

In a letter Monday to the feds, Dan St. John, Petaluma’s public works director, stated the city finds it “puzzling” the quiet zone is under consideration again.

You can reach Staff Writer Derek Moore at 707-521-5336 or derek.moore@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @deadlinederek.