Safe Alternatives

Safety guidelines proposed by federal railroad officials could mean more train noise for Spokane residents and less for their neighbors in the county.

The Federal Railroad Administration is proposing lifting train whistle bans in cities, towns and counties that don’t require strict safety regulations at rail crossings.

Washington cities have had the authority to ban train whistles for more than 80 years, and Spokane, Seattle and some other municipalities statewide currently have such bans in place.

That may change under the new guidelines, which will be the subject of public hearings this spring.

Unless Washington cities and towns beef up security where city streets cross rail lines, train whistle bans might be overturned, federal officials said.

But in Spokane County, the new rules may mean more whistle bans.

Residents in the unincorporated area have complained for years about train noise interrupting their sleep or otherwise hurting their quality of life.

Engineers blow their whistles at crossings to warn drivers and pedestrians of oncoming trains.

In 1995 the state Legislature gave counties the authority to ban train whistles, and Spokane County commissioners passed an ordinance allowing them to do so at crossings that meet FRA safety guidelines.

Trouble was, there were no FRA safety guidelines, said Bob Brueggeman, the county’s traffic engineer. Spokane County has been waiting for five years to adopt the guidelines, Brueggeman said.

With FRA approval, county officials did set up one whistle-free crossing, at University Road in the Valley.

The crossing is guarded by flashing lights and arms that fall across the road when a train approaches. There also is a long median in place to keep drivers from driving around the arms.

County and railroad officials have monitored the site as a test case, and the safeguards in use at University Road are part of the FRA’s proposed minimum safety standards.