Author:  City of Louisville, Federal Railroad Administration, Commonwealth of Kentucky, CSX Transportation

Date of Publication:  1999

Abstract:

The purpose of this book is to help understand the process in which the Louisville Quiet Zone was established. The corridor study extends from Kentucky Street highway-rail grade crossing located at railroad mile post 3.19 in the City of Louisville, Kentucky, south to the Shelby Street highway-rail grade crossing located at mile post 2.64. This corridor has been designated by the City of Louisville as the Louisville Quiet Zone. The trackage involved in this project is owned by the CSX Transportation, Inc., and is part of the railroad’s Louisville Division, and is further designated as Louisville terminal. In the project area there are a total of 12 highway-rail grade crossings.

This project was undertaken by the City of Louisville, Commonwealth of Kentucky, Federal Railroad Administration, and the CSX Rail Road in order to facilitate the resolution of the locomotive whistle complaints in this area of the City of Louisville. The objective of the project is to provide a highway/rail safety plan that will allow trains to pass through a specified corridor without blowing whistles, improve the safety of the current crossing, which may include closing certain crossings and to gain support from the residents and area businesses.

The project had to overcome many obstacles including dual tracks, a total of twelve crossings, numerous alley crossings with no warning signals, a large curve in the tracks, parallel streets and antiquated rail crossing devices. Some of these obstacles turned into reasons why this area was chosen. One being the parallel streets. Others include one way streets, the ability to close streets and alleys which would result in an improved traffic pattern and finally the cooperation between local, state, federal authorities and the CSX Railroad.

The Louisville Quiet Zone will consist of an area which will be approximately a half a mile long, closing four street crossings and adding cul de sacs where needed, closing three alley crossings, adding cul de sacs where needed, and opening a new alley passage where needed, cut curbs and add bollards where needed, and widening an alley to allow for two way traffic.
 

No. of Pages:  28