Petaluma on track to implement SMART train quiet zones in April

The waiting area at Petaluma Dental Group spares little in its efforts to calm nervous patients.

From massage chairs and soft music, to a spray mister and photos of nature scenes on a large flat-screen TV, the vibe is definitely chill.

But that mood is shattered, according to office employees, by the blaring of horns on trains operated by the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit authority. The 60-ton trains roll past the Southpoint Boulevard crossing behind the dentist office's parking lot multiple times a day; the horns rise in loudness to the decibel level of chainsaws.

Christine Leonard, the dental group's specialty treatment coordinator, compared the sound of the horn to that of a dentist drill. “It causes anxiety for our patients.”

Leonard is counting on relief after Petaluma implements a so-called “quiet zone” April 19 restricting train horns at the Southpoint location and at seven other rail crossings in the city. Such zones prohibit engineers from sounding horns except in limited circumstances.

Dan St. John, the city's public utilities director, on Monday confirmed the April date for kicking off the new restrictions.

“Yes, and there's a letter that's been filed to that effect,” St. John said.

He was referring to a March 7 letter the city sent to the Federal Railroad Administration giving the mandated 21-day notice to begin the noise restrictions. The letter was the final step in a months-long process that included taking public comment.

Sentiment in Petaluma and elsewhere along the 43-mile rail line where SMART initially plans to operate passenger service is strongly in favor of limiting the horn sounds.

At Petaluma Estates Mobile Home Park near the North McDowell Avenue rail crossing, resident Amy Cost said she doesn't mind the “hoot” of a train horn every now and then. But she called SMART's horns “overwhelming.”

At the park's clubhouse, a man who gave his name as Joe said his dog barks madly when she hears the horns.

He was among several park residents who signed a petition seeking the quiet zones. SMART officials, however, have signaled they will not abide by the restrictions while testing of the trains is ongoing, citing safety concerns.

It's unclear whether the rail agency has that authority.

Farhad Mansourian, SMART's general manager, did not immediately return messages Monday seeking comment.

SMART delayed passenger service late in 2016 due in part to problems getting warning systems to function properly. The start of service now is said to be late spring.

Officials across Sonoma and Marin counties are pushing forward with what essentially would amount to quiet zones governing all public rail crossings along the initial 43-mile route. But so far, only Petaluma has announced it will implement the restrictions prior to the end of SMART's testing phase.

“The direction from the (city) council was very direct: Establish quiet zones as soon as possible,” St. John said. “That's what staff has proceeded to do.”

For Leonard at Petaluma Dental Group, it can't happen soon enough.

“We try to be as holistic as we can here, and that (horn noise) is not conducive to that,” she said.