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The Quiet Zone Establishment Process Under the Train Horn Rule, only public authorities are permitted to establish quiet zones. Citizens who wish to have a quiet zone in their neighborhood should contact their local government to pursue the establishment of a quiet zone. The following is a typical example of the steps taken to establish a quiet zone: 1. Determine which crossings will be included in the quiet zone. All public highway -rail crossings in the quiet zone must have, at a minimum, an automatic warning system consisting of flashing lights and gates. The warning systems must be equipped with constant warning time devices (except in rare circumstances) and power out indicators. The length of the quiet zone must be at least one-half mile in length. 2. Identify any private highway -rail grade crossings within the proposed quiet zone. If they allow access to the public or provide access to active industrial or commercial sites, a diagnostic review must be conducted and the crossing(s) treated in accordance with the recommendations of the diagnostic team. 3. Identify any pedestrian crossings within the proposed quiet zone and conduct a diag- nostic review of those crossings too. They also must be treated in accordance with the diagnostic team's recommendations. NOTE: While it is not required by the regulations, FRA recommends that every crossing within a proposed quiet zone be reviewed for safety concerns. 4. Update the U.S. DOT Crossing Inventory Form to reflect current physical and operating conditions at each public, private, and pedestrian crossing located within a proposed quiet zone. 5. Provide a Notice of Intent (NOI) to all of the railroads that operate over crossings in the proposed quiet zone, the State agency responsible for highway safety and the State agency responsible for crossing safety. The NOI must list all of the crossings in the proposed quiet zone and give a brief explanation of the tentative plans for implementing improvements within the quiet zone. Additional required elements of the NOI can be found in 49 CFR 222.43(b). The railroads and State agencies have 60 days in which to provide comments to the public authority on the proposed plan. 6. Alternative Safety Measures — If ASMs are going to be used to reduce risk, an application to FRA must be made. The application must include all of the elements provided in 49 CFR 222.39(b)(1) and copies of the application must be sent to the entities listed in 49 CFR 222.39(b)(3). They will have 60 days to provide comments to FRA on the application. FRA will provide a written decision on the application typically within three to four months after it is received. F