The City of Longmont is beginning construction this month for the “Railroad Quiet Zones Project.” The project includes safety upgrades in 17 railroad crossings, 14 of which are part of a Federal Rail Administration (FRA) grant, which is providing $4 million towards the completion of the project. Railroad crossing safety improvements include gates, flashing lights, and other crossing enhancements. Once these improvements are made, the intersections will be considered “quiet zones” and the train operator will not sound the horn unless there is a safety concern.
The 14 crossings are split into four groups with the total project expected to be completed in 2027. The first phase on Group 1, according to the city, will begin now and last until July, and includes improvements on 9th Avenue and 17th Avenue. From July to October, phase two of construction will commence at 3rd Avenue and Longs Peak Avenue, which is also part of Group 1.
Group 2 includes five crossings to be completed from the end of 2025 through 2026. Group 3 contains three more crossings to be completed between 2026 and 2027, and the final two crossings in Group 4 are scheduled to be completed in 2027…