Petaluma joins list of cities exploring SMART 'quiet zones'

Faced with numerous noise complaints from the public, the city of Petaluma this week joined the growing list of North Bay cities exploring the creation of “quiet zones” along the SMART rail corridor.

At the City Council meeting Monday night, members participated in a workshop on railroad quiet zones, which have already been formally requested by Santa Rosa, Novato and San Rafael. Quiet zones, as City Engineer Curt Bates said, are poorly named, as they're not permanently quiet, but rather usually quiet.

They create an out for engineers who are bound by the law to announce their trains' presence when approaching a rail crossing, regardless of whether or not there's anyone there. In a quiet zone, instead of blasting the required sequence - two long, one short, one long - engineers will be able to decide whether the warning is necessary.

“I am 110 percent behind this ... I want it done as soon as we can,” said council member Gabe Kearney, who lives within earshot of the horn blasts. For Bob Ulmer, who lives at Petaluma Estates Mobile Home Park just west of the tracks, establishing quiet zones in Petaluma has been a mission since early in the summer.

On Monday, Ulmer handed the City Council a petition with 454 signatures in support of establishing a quiet zone.

Ulmer moved to Petaluma from Novato, which is well on its way to establishing a quiet zone of its own, about two years ago.

Petaluma's quiet zone would run from Corona Road to Caulfield Lane. If the council decides to go through with it, the city must first file a “notice of intent” with the Federal Railroad Administration, Bates said.

Then, there's a 60-day comment period. Once those comments are addressed, the city can submit its “notice of establishment,” and from there, it takes 21 days' notice before the trains stop routinely sounding their horns.

How long that process might take, though, is unknown, Bates said. SMART service is expected to begin in December.

If the city goes forward with the process, it will apply only within city limits, leaving out unincorporated areas.

County Supervisor David Rabbitt, who serves on the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit Authority board of directors, and whose district includes Petaluma, said if the county starts getting similar requests from residents, it, too, would proceed with the process.

So far, he has only heard a few comments from residents during community meetings.

“It has not been the burning topic of conversation,” he said in a text message.

Rabbitt, who lives in Petaluma, said that he supports quiet zones as long as the crossings are outfitted with sufficient supplemental safety devices - a requirement for the zones' establishment.

The Petaluma crossings are already outfitted with such equipment, and a city assessment of whether Petaluma's rail corridor would qualify for approval, based on risk, determined that the city is eligible.

“This train horn thing is ridiculous, and it's not necessary,” Ulmer said. “I don't see how (the council) can not go forward with this.”

You can reach Staff Writer Christi Warren at 521-5205 or christi.war ren@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @SeaWarren.