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8.3 County/City Funding Programs <br />Innovative finance techniques are available that have been successful in other <br />areas for funding the necessary improvements for a Quiet Zone. Such <br />techniques previously used include: <br />- Special Benefit Assessments/Property Tax Reassessments <br />The value of a Quiet Zone in making a community more livable and <br />attractive should have the effect of increasing local property values. <br />Train horns are only one factor influencing the value of property in a <br />community, but are likely to be more significant the closer the <br />property is to an at -grade crossing. The increased property value from <br />a Quiet Zone could be reflected in a special assessment district <br />established around the Quiet Zone or in property assessments. <br />- Local contributions <br />8.4 Additional Funding Sources <br />Some other cities in Minnesota have been able to work with the state <br />legislature to obtain money for Quiet Zone projects through bonding bills. <br />These funds are not through a specific program but based upon projects that <br />the lawmakers deem necessary enough to borrow money for completion. An <br />infrastructure bonding bill has been passed almost every year since 1962. <br />Previously, Shoreview, Little Canada and Eden Prairie have attained funds <br />through this process. <br />9.0 IMPLEMENTATION OFA QUIET ZONE <br />Phasing of quiet zones is a process where a community can group the crossings <br />based on spacing, similar land use characteristics, safety and funding considerations. <br />Phasing can get complicated, but many communities have successfully implemented <br />multiple quiet zones. <br />The City should consider the following series of questions to decide how to <br />implement a quiet zone: <br />1. Should the quiet zone be nighttime only? <br />The rules allow two different types of quiet zones: a 24 hour or a nighttime. <br />The rules are the same, but some communities have shown a reluctance to <br />suspend the train horns during the heavy roadway or pedestrian traffic <br />periods of the day. <br />2. Should each crossing have SSM installed? <br />Supplemental Safety Measures are very effective but the way the rules are <br />written, communities can average the risk among all the crossings so some <br />