Quiet Zone Calculator Help
Quiet Zone Overview
Introduction
Registration and Login
Main Menu, Links, and Step-By-Step Instructions on Every Page
Change Password and Email Address
Create New Zone
Add Crossings to Zone
Update and Verify Crossing Information
Manage Scenarios
Obtain Relevant Crossing Collision Information
Redistribute Traffic
Create Alternate Scenarios
Implement Scenario and Verify Crossings
Complete Application
Glossary of Terms
Quiet Zone Overview

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The overall purpose of the application process is to achieve Quiet Zone status for a corridor of crossings, in which horns are not sounded as trains pass through.  A

corridor will not be designated a Quiet Zone unless specific requirements are met to reduce the risk index to a level that is equal to or less than the national average risk at gated crossings with horns, or the risk is reduced enough to compensate for the loss of the safety benefit afforded by a train sounding its horn.

 

Quiet Zone Designation Requirements:

 

·        Each public crossing within a New Quiet Zone must at a minimum be equipped with gates.  Each public crossing within a Pre-Rule Quiet Zone may retain, but may not downgrade the warning systems in place.

 

·        A Quiet Zone must be at least one half of a mile in length, although Pre-Rule Quiet Zones may remain unchanged.

 

·        A Quiet Zone may be designated if Supplementary Safety Measures (SSMs) are applied to every public at-grade crossing within the Quiet Zone.

 

·        A Quiet Zone may be designated if the Quiet Zone Risk Index (QZRI) is below the Nationwide Significant Risk Threshold (NSRT).

 

·        A Quiet Zone may be designated if Supplementary Safety Measures (SSMs) are instituted which reduce the Quiet Zone Risk Index (QZRI) to a level below the Nationwide Significant Risk Threshold (NSRT), or to the risk level which would exist if locomotive horns sounded at all crossings within the zone.

 

·        A Pre-Rule Quiet Zone may also be designated if the Quiet Zone Risk Index (QZRI) is less than twice the Nationwide Significant Risk Threshold

      (NSRT) or if there have not been any relevant collisions at the public 

      crossings within the Quiet Zone for the past five years.


Quiet Zone Overview Flowchart

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Introduction

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The Quiet Zone Calculator is a tool created by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to allow local jurisdictions to research the feasibility of creating a quiet zone in their community.A quiet zone is a corridor of railroad crossings in which train horns are not routinely sounded by trains approaching highway-rail grade crossings.

 

The Quiet Zone Calculator allows users to access the FRA maintained National Grade Crossing Inventory and FRA Highway-Rail grade crossing accident records, select a series of crossings, test proposed safety implementation plans that are in compliance with the Final Rule, and generate summary reports for FRA review.The user will be able to create multiple scenarios for new quiet zones as well as for zones that already have a whistle ban (pre-rule quiet zones).

The calculator will determine the risk index for the proposed Quiet Zone corridor.The risk index will then be evaluated to determine whether quiet zone criteria have been met.Criteria include reducing the risk index to a level that is equal to, or less than the national average risk at gated crossings with horns (NSRT), or a reduction in risk that is sufficient to compensate for the safety benefit lost by the horn not sounding.

Users may save their zones and various scenarios for later use.

Users without internet access may request a CD-ROM version of the Quiet Zone Calculator.FRA does not maintain a list of those requesting a CD-ROM in order to ensure their privacy.

Registration and Login

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Upon reaching the Login page, new users must first click on the link to launch the Help):

 

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The user must enter his or her email address in the first box.This is the email address that the message containing the user’s password will be sent to and it will also be the user’s Login ID. The user may choose a state to be the default selection whenever he or she is creating a quiet zone after logging in.If the user chooses a state, he or she may also choose a county or city to also be the default when creating a new zone.The radio button that is chosen (County or City) will determine which drop down box will be enabled.The user may choose ANY from the City or County drop down box or may make a specific selection.(Note: The selection of a state and county or city does not limit the users ability to create a quiet zone in another state or location.) Once the user’s email address and default location information is entered, he or she must click on the my Image button to proceed with the registration process.The user may click on the my Image button to cancel the registration process:

 

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Once the my Image button is clicked on, a message will be sent to the user’s email account containing a password to be used to login.The user must retrieve that email message and enter the information in the Login ID and Password boxes on the Login page:

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Once the user’s email address is entered in the Login ID box and the Password is also entered, the user must click on the my Image button to log in.Upon logging in for the first time, the system will prompt the user to change his or her password.The application uses a secure user registration and login system.

Main Menu, Links, and Step-By-Step Instructions on Every Page

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After logging in, the user is taken to the main menu:

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On every page there is a my Image  link that will return the user to the Main Menu page.  The my Image  link on every page will launch the Help file when clicked on. 

 

The user may click on the links from the Main Menu to create a new zone, manage an existing zone, change their email address and password, and log off.  Next to the link is a brief description of what may be done when the link is clicked on.

 

Above every page is a my Image  link that allows the user to print the page that he or she is viewing.  The user’s printer must be set to the “landscape” mode in order to print the entire width of the page.

 

On the left side of every page there are step-by-step instructions as well as links to allow the user to create a new zone, manage an existing zone, and log off: 

 

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The links perform the same functions as the corresponding links on the Main Menu page.

 

Clicking on the my Image  link will bring the user to the Create New Zone page.  This is discussed further in the Create New Zone section of the Help.

 

If the my Image  link is clicked on, the user is brought to a page listing all of his or her zones:

 

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The zone name is listed as well as whether or not the zone is a Pre-Rule Quiet Zone.  The user may delete the zone by clicking on the my Image  link to the right of the zone name.

 

The user may manage the zone by clicking on the my Image  link to the right of the zone.  The user will be taken to the last step completed in the Quiet Zone process for that particular zone.

 

To log off and exit the system, the user should click on the my Image  link from the Main Menu or the my Image  link from the left side of any page.

Change Password and Email Address

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The original email address provided by the user at registration and the original password provided by the application may be changed at any time after logging in.  The user may click on the my Image  or my Image  link from the Quiet Zone main menu in order to update his or her information:

 

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Clicking on the my Image  link from the main menu provides a screen in which the user may enter a new Email Address, enter it a second time to confirm, and submit: 

 

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Once the Email address is changed, this will be the user’s new Login ID.

 

Clicking on the my Image  link from the main menu will allow the user to enter a new password.  It is suggested that the user change his or her password after logging in to something that is easier to remember.  To do so, the user must enter the new password, enter it a second time for confirmation, and then click on the my Image  button:

 

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Once the password is changed, it will be the user’s new password to enter when logging in.

 

 

Create New Zone

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The first step when using the Quiet Zone Calculator is to create a new zone.  To do so, the user must click on the my Image  link from the main menu or the left side of any page.  The following screen will be displayed:

 

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The user must enter a name in the Proposed Quiet Zone Name box.  The user must also choose if this is a Pre-Rule Quiet Zone or a New Quiet Zone.  A Pre-Rule Quiet Zone is a zone that had a whistle ban in effect on 10/09/96 and on 12/18/2003.  These pre-rule quiet zones are subject to a different set of criteria than zones that are just being established.

 

The user may click on the my Image  link to be taken to the first pages of the Help, which give a brief overview of the Quiet Zone process.

 

Add Crossings to Zone

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Once it has been decided whether the quiet zone is new or already established, the user must click on the my Image button.  Once the my Image button has been clicked on, the Add Crossing to Zone page will appear:

 

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The user must first choose a state from which the crossings will come.  If the user chose a default state when registering, that state will appear in the drop down box, however a state other than the default may be chosen.  Depending on which radio button is chosen, County or City, the user must make a selection from the coordinating drop down box.  Again, if the user chose a city or county when registering, that selection will show as the default in the drop down box, however another city or county may be chosen.  The choices in the Railroad drop down box are dependent on the city or county chosen above it.  (Note:  It will take a moment to load the data after each of these selections.)  Only the railroads in that particular city or county will be available for selection initially.  To select a railroad other than one provided, the user may click on the my Image  button to choose from a list of all railroads.  To further narrow down the search for crossings, the user may enter the starting and ending milepost numbers of the zone.  These numbers go in the Milepost boxes and are optional.  Once all of the locational search data is entered, the user must click on the my Image  button to retrieve the crossings fitting the specified criteria.  Once the my Image  button is clicked on, a screen similar to the following will be displayed:

 

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To select a range of crossings that make up a Quiet Zone, the user must click on the first crossing from the list that is to be included in the zone, and then scroll down until the last crossing to be included in the zone is found.  The user must hold down the Shift key while clicking on the last crossing in the zone.  This will highlight all crossings in between and including the two crossings.  To select multiple crossings that are not grouped together, the user must click on each crossing while holding down the Ctrl (Control) key.  Once the crossings are selected, the user must click on the my Image  button to continue with the Quiet Zone calculation process.  The user will then be taken to the Update and Certify Crossing Information page.

 

 

Update and Verify Crossing Information

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After the crossings have been selected and the my Image  button has been clicked on, a screen similar to the following will be displayed:

 

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It is from this page that the crossing information for each individual crossing may be updated, with the exception of private and grade separated crossings.  To update a crossing, the user must click on a crossing from the list.  The information for that crossing is displayed on the right half of the page.  The recorded values appear in blue.  Next to the given values are data entry and drop down boxes.  The user may enter updates in these boxes by placing new numbers and choices from the drop downs in the boxes.  The present warning device of all public at-grade crossings for new quiet zones must be changed to Gates in order to continue with the Quiet Zone calculation process.  Once the changes are made to update a particular crossing, the my Image  button must be clicked on to officially update the crossing.  The updating process changes only the information used by the calculator.  It does not update the National Inventory database.  The user must ensure that the information shown for each public crossing is correct.  He or she must also remember that the warning device for all public crossings in new zones must be updated to have Gates.  For private and grade separated crossings, the my Image  button will not appear and therefore any changes made to the crossing will not be saved.

 

To add a crossing to the list, the user may click on the my Image  button.  This will take the user back to the Add Crossing to Zone page in which other crossings may be chosen to add to the zone.  In order to delete a crossing from the zone, the user must click on a crossing from the list and then on the my Image  button.  A message will ask if the user is sure about this deletion.  Multiple crossings may be deleted at once by clicking on the first crossing from the list to be deleted and then on the last crossing while holding the shift key.  Clicking on the my Image  button will delete all of the selected crossings.  The user must be sure that after the crossings are deleted, the proposed new quiet zone corridor is at least one-half mile in length.

 

After all of the crossings have been updated and Gates have been added to all public at-grade crossings in new quiet zones, the user must verify that all of the crossing information that he or she provided is correct.  To do so, the box below the crossing list needs to be checked:

 

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Once the user has verified that all of the crossing information is correct, he or she may click on the my Image  button to move on to the Quiet Zone Calculator.  A message will pop up again to certify that the information input is correct and to let the user know that he or she may not return to the Update Crossing Information page:

 

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The user will then be taken to the Calculator page.

 

 

Manage Scenarios

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After all of the public at-grade crossings (in new zones) have been updated to include Gates and the information has been certified as being correct, the user is brought to the Quiet Zone Calculator page:

 

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The first scenario is created automatically after the user modifies the crossings and continues.  It is from this screen that users may change warning devices and Supplementary Safety Measures (SSMs) of public at-grade crossings in an effort to attain Quiet Zone status.  To modify a crossing, the user must click on the my Image  button that is in the same row as the crossing that needs to be changed.  Changes may only be made to the Warning Device and Supplementary Safety Measures (SSMs).  (Note:  Only warning devices in Pre-Rule Quiet Zones can be changed.)  In order to change one of these items, the user must click on the drop down box below the Warning Device or SSM heading.  The user may choose 0-10 as an SSM:

 

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A list of the SSMs is available if the user clicks on the Supplementary Safety Measures (SSMs) link that is below the list of crossings.  (A list of SSMs is also available in the Glossary of Terms section of this Help.)  Adding these SSMs, or changing the Warning Device from Gates to Closed should lower the risk for that particular crossing in the zone.  Once the modifications have been made to the Warning Device and SSM fields, the user must click on the my Image  button in order to update the crossing.  The user may also click on the my Image  button if no changes are to be made. 

 

When the my Image  button is clicked on, the Risk value for the crossing changes as well as some of the values in the Calculator box:

 

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The Estimated Total Cost increases while the Quiet Zone Risk Index decreases as a result of adding SSMs to the crossings in the zone.  Once the requirements are met to qualify the corridor as a Quiet Zone, the my Image button appears.  The user may click on this button to save the current scenario and continue on with the application process.   The user may also click on the my Image button if he or she does not want to save the scenario. 

 

Obtain Relevant Crossing Collision Information

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For Pre-Rule Quiet Zones that have a QZRI greater than the NSRT and less than twice the NSRT, all of the crossings will be checked for relevant collisions over the past five years.  The Relevant Collision Report must be included with the Quiet Zone application in order to be considered for Quiet Zone status if creating a pre-rule quiet zone using the provision of the rule.  An additional button for Pre-Rule Quiet Zones that have a QZRI greater than the NSRT and less than twice the NSRT prior to the application of SSMs will be available on the Calculator page if there are no relevant collisions at the public crossings.  Users may view the report by clicking on the my Image  button:

 

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When the my Image  button is clicked on, a report similar to the following will be displayed:

 

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The report lists the public crossings that have not had relevant collisions within the past five years.  Crossing ID, street name, and date of the relevant collision appear on this report. 

 

In order to open, print, and/or save the report, the user must click on the my Image  button and follow the prompts to perform the desired action.

 

Back on the Calculator page, users may click on the my Image  button to save the scenario for application.  Clicking on the my Image  button will enable the SSM column drop down menus and will take away the button for the relevant collision report.  Changes to the SSMs may be made until the zone meets the designation criteria and the my Image  button appears again.

 

Note:  A relevant collision refers to a collision at a highway-rail grade crossing between a train and a motor vehicle, excluding the following: a collision resulting from an activation failure of an active grade crossing warning system; a collision in which there is no driver in the motor vehicle; or a collision in which the highway vehicle struck the side of the train beyond the fourth locomotive unit or rail car.

 

 

Redistribute Traffic

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If ‘2’ is chosen from the SSM drop down menu or ‘Closed’ from the Warning Device drop down menu, the crossing will be closed and the traffic at that crossing must be redistributed.  The user is taken to the redistribute traffic page:

 

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The number of unshared vehicles from the closed crossing appears in red.  This is the number of vehicles that must be distributed to other crossings in the zone or crossings outside of the zone.  To redistribute traffic to crossings within the zone, the user must click on th my Image  button associated with the crossing that is to receive some or all of the vehicle traffic.  The user must then enter the number of vehicles that will be rerouted to this crossing in the empty box.  All or just a portion of the total may be entered in this box.  Once the desired number is entered, the user may click on the my Image  button to update the crossing information.  The shared vehicle count will be added to the current count for that crossing.  He or she may click on the my Image  button and not save the changes.  Once the my Image  button is clicked on, the number of unshared vehicles in red will change to reflect the new number of vehicles that is left to be shared.

 

To redistribute vehicles outside of the zone the user must enter a Crossing ID and number of vehicles in the boxes at the bottom of the page and click on the my Image  button.

 

Once all of the available vehicles have been redistributed, a my Image  button will appear:

 

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The user must click on the my Image  button to save all of the changes.  A warning message will pop up to inform the user that once the traffic is redistributed, the crossing may not be reopened using this scenario:

 

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If the OK button is clicked on, the user will be brought back to the Calculator page.

 

If it is decided that the user wishes to reopen the closed crossing, he or she must click on the my Image  button from the calculator page to be taken to the List of Scenarios page.  It is from here that the user may click on the my Image  button to create a new scenario in which the crossing is open.

 

 

Create Alternate Scenarios

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The first scenario is created when the user proceeds from the Update Crossing Information page to the Calculator page.  When the scenario is implemented, it will appear on the list of implemented scenarios.  This is also the screen that the user is taken to if a scenario has been created and if the my Image  link is clicked on from the Main Menu:

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The first scenario appears in the box and the number is generated by the program.  In order to manage that scenario, the user must click on the scenario in the box and then click on the my Image  button.  This will bring the user to the Calculator page of that scenario. 

 

To create a new scenario, the user must click on the my Image  button.  This scenario will be a carbon copy of the initial one created by the application.  The scenario number is autogenerated.  There is no limit to the number of new scenarios that the user may create.

 

To delete a scenario, the user must click on the scenario to be deleted in the box and then click on the my Image  button.

 

To return to the Manage Scenarios page, the user should click on the my Image  button from the Calculator page.

 

 

Implement Scenario and Verify Crossings

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When the user clicks on the my Image  button from the Calculator page, he or she is taken to a page which lists all implemented scenarios to choose from:

 

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The user must click on the my Image  button for the scenario that he or she wishes to designate as a Quiet Zone.  (Clicking on the my Image  button will delete the scenario from the list.)  Once the my Image  button is clicked on, the next step in the application process is to verify private crossings.  The user needs to check the box to verify that the private crossings that are open to the public or provide access to active commercial or industrial sites conform to the recommendations of the diagnostic team:

 

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The private crossings may be modified at this point by clicking on the my Image  button.  A recommendation will appear that suggests changing the Warning Device to Gates, but it is not required that this occur.  The user may submit or cancel the recommendation.  

Once all of the private crossings have been modified and/or verified by checking the box, the user must click on the my Image  button to proceed to the application.

 

 

Complete Application

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After the scenario has been implemented and chosen, and the private crossings have been certified, the user must fill out the application information.  Personal information must be entered in the boxes on the Applicant Information page (Fax and Email are optional): 

 

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Once all of the personal information is entered, the my Image  button should be clicked on to proceed to the actual application.  The user will be presented with another button to click on to generate the actual designation information report:

 

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When the my Image  button is clicked on, the Quiet Zone designation information report will be displayed in PDF format:

 

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By clicking on the disk or printer button from the PDF screen, the user is able to save the document to his or her computer, or print it.  If the user chooses to save the application, he or she must navigate to the folder on their computer where it is to be saved. 

 

Glossary of Terms

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NSRT (Nationwide Significant Risk Threshold) – represents the average severity

            weighted collision risk for all public highway-rail grade crossings equipped with

            lights and gates nationwide where train horns are routinely sounded.  FRA

            developed the NSRT to serve as a threshold of permissible risk for quiet zones to

            meet.

 

QZRI (Quiet Zone Risk Index) – represents the average severity weighted collision risk

            for all public highway-rail grade crossings that are part of a quiet zone.  It

            includes added risk caused by the lack of a train horn and risk reductions caused

            by the implementation of SSMs.

 

Relevant Collision - a collision at a highway-rail grade crossing between a train and a

            motor vehicle, excluding the following: a collision resulting from an activation

            failure of an active grade crossing warning system; a collision in which there is no

            driver in the motor vehicle; or a collision in which the highway vehicle struck the 

            side of the train beyond the fourth locomotive unit or rail car.

 

RI (Risk Index) – the cost to society of the casualties that are expected to result

            from the predicted collisions at a crossing.  It is calculated as the sum of the

            predicted cost of fatalities and the predicted cost of injuries.

 

Risk Index With Horns – represents the level of risk that would exist if train horns were  

            sounded at every public crossing in the proposed quiet zone.

 

SSMs (Supplementary Safety Measures) – additional measures that may be taken in order

            to reduce risk at a crossing:

 

             1 - Temporary Closure of a Public Highway-Rail Grade Crossing

             2 - Permanent Closure of a Public Highway-Rail Grade Crossing

             3 - Grade Separation of a Public Highway-Rail Grade Crossing

             4 - Four-Quadrant Gates Upgrade from Two-Quadrant gates, No Vehicle

                   Presence Detection

             5 - Four-Quadrant Gates New Installation, No Vehicle Presence Detection

             6 - Four-Quadrant Gates with Vehicle Presence Detection

             7 - Four-Quadrant Gates, with Medians of at Least 60 feet, with or without

                  Presence Detection

             8 - Mountable medians with Reflective Traffic Channelization Devices

             9 - Non-Traversable Curb Medians with or without Channelization Devices

           10 - One-Way Streets with Gates