In the last decade, the Pearl District has evolved from a predominantly industrial area to a beautiful, urban neighborhood.

The mainline corridor serving downtown Portland and Union Station runs parallel and adjacent to N.W. Naito Parkway, with five railroads operating on the corridor.

Locomotive operators are required to sound their horns as they approach all roadway-railroad grade crossings in the Union Station vicinity.

In 2005, the Federal Rail Administration established procedures for creating quiet zones where the sounding of locomotive horns is prohibited, except in the case where the operator perceives a potentially hazardous situation.

The City of Portland, the Portland Development Commission, Hoyt Street Properties and the Pearl District Neighborhood Association support the establishment of a quiet zone in the vicinity of the main line railroad crossings at NW 9th, 15th, 17th and Naito Parkway under the Steel Bridge (the Quiet Zone).

The Portland Development Commission and the Portland Bureau of Transportation are in the process of implementing the Quiet Zone.

ITEMS COMPLETED TO DATE to establish the Quiet Zone

HOYT – Hoyt Street Properties PBOT - Portland Bureau of Transportation PDC - Portland Development Commission FRA – Federal Rail Association ODOT – Oregon Department of Transportation

NOVEMBER 2008: Notice of Intent issued to Establish a Quiet Zone

JANUARY 2009: Notice of Intent comment period (60 days) FEBRUARY 2009: Update meeting to Pearl Neighborhood Association

MARCH 2009: Comments received, notice reissued for another 60 days

APRIL 2009: ODOT requires 90% design plans and cost estimates from City

APRIL 2009: Supplemental Safety Measures (SSMs) reviewed for each of the four crossings (Quiet Zone) among all parties

MAY 2009: PBOT completes 60% design plans

MAY 2009: RAIL CROSSING APPLICATION SUBMITTED!

JUNE 2009: ODOT completes review of 60% design drawings JULY 2009: Comment period (60 days) for the Rail Crossing (Quiet Zone)ends

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NEXT STEPS....

AUGUST 2009: Formal (written) response from FRA on the Rail Crossing

SEPTEMBER 2009: FRA provides final design requirements to PBOT OCTOBER 2009: PBOT completes 90% design drawings and submits to ODOT Rail

NOVEMBER 2009: ODOT Rail issues Rail Crossing Order January 2010: PBOT completes final construction documents and specifications

FEBRUARY 2010: PBOT completes construction of Quiet Zone (SSMs)

FEBRUARY 28, 2010: 21 Day waiting period to instruct railroads of the implemented Quiet Zone

Costs to establish Quiet Zone are split between HOYT and PDC.

• THE FRA AND ODOT RAIL REVIEW CYCLES ARE UNCERTAIN AND DIFFICULT TO PREDICT. THE SCHEDULE COULD BE EXTENDED IF THESE REVIEW CYCLES TAKE LONGERTHAN ONE MONTH EACH

• HOYT WILL PROVIDE UPDATES AS GIVEN

To discuss with PBOT, call Rich Newlands at 823-7780 or rich.newlands@pdxtrans.org

To discuss with PDC, call Eric Jacobson at 823-3306 or jacobsone@pdc.us