UNION PACIFIC AND THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION
Timeline for completion extended due to permitting delays
You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.
San Marcos residents have realized just how important the quiet zones are that allow the city’s extensive train traffic to pass quietly through town after the whistles began sounding for the first time in years this May.
On Oct. 21, crews began the construction process necessary to restore the quiet zones, but the timeline for completion has been extended.
The railroad safety compliance work necessary to re-establish quiet zones in San Marcos is now expected to be completed by March 2025 due to the complexities of the permitting process required for this type of project.
The deficiencies were identified following an inspection conducted by Union Pacific and the Federal Railroad Administration earlier this year.
Although the city had planned to submit a single Maintenance Consent Letter permit for construction to address the deficiencies, Union Pacific required the city to submit two separate permits to complete the necessary work as a result of the final inspection report. The work mandated by the MCL permit is expected to be completed by Nov. 2024, in line with the original timeline. The additional Public Improvement Permit involves more complex curb and median replacements and has caused an extended delay. This portion of the project is expected to conclude in Feb. 2025.
“The delays are due to the detailed review and approval process required for the Public Improvement Permit required by UPRR,” San Marcos Senior Engineer Rey Garcia said. “We recognize the disruption this has caused residents in our community, and we are taking steps to prevent future compliance issues. We will implement a new curb design standard moving forward to discourage contractors from overlaying next to the curb and taking railroad crossings out of compliance with FRA requirements.”
Once construction is complete, the city will request an inspection and final approval from UPRR to reinstate the quiet zones.
Quiet zones were established at railroad crossings in San Marcos in 2015 and require enhanced safety measures. These include installation of automatic warning devices, such as flashing lights and gates and construction of medians as determined by an analysis of traffic volume, accident history and physical characteristics of crossings.
