Resident plans to bring Quiet Zones to agenda

Terry Hughes doesn't like public speaking. In fact, he hates it. But at Tuesday's city commission meeting, he will be talking.

The meeting will start at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 1 E. Third St.

Hughes plans to voice his opinion in favor of installing what are called "Quiet Zones" at rail crossings in Fort Scott. He said the devices will eliminate train whistles, a long standing inconvenience for the community.

"We have been abused for 100 years," Hughes said, "and this is the time we can stop it."

Hughes, who lives about 2 1/2 blocks from the tracks, said the commission has the chance to approve the Quiet Zones and, as a result, can do a great service to the community. "This is something Fort Scott needs," Hughes said. "We now have the ability to stop the train whistle."

Engineers recommended the city with several options to alleviate problems with trains through Fort Scott. One of the options is to install Quiet Zones and the other is to build a grade separation or overpass.

Quiet Zones will cost a total of around $307,500. A quiet zone is a railroad grade crossing at which trains are prohibited from sounding their horns in order to decrease the noise level for nearby residential communities. The train horns can be silenced only when other safety measures compensate for the absence of the horns.

At the last commission meeting on July 17, the options were included on the agenda but commissioners didn't discuss the issues to a great degree. Hughes felt compelled to be outspoken about the issue because of that lack of discussion.

Hughes, who spoke to the Tribune on Friday, said he encourages residents to attend Tuesday's meeting, especially those who live near the railroad and are affected by the noise. He planned on walking door-to-door to spread this message.

Quiet Zones will be a tremendous help to residents who live near the railroad tracks in Fort Scott, he added. Train whistles disturb not only homeowners but also events in Fort Scott, Hughes said. At this year's Memorial Day services, a speaker had to pause because of the train whistles.

"We've had dignitaries giving speeches and here's a rail road whistle," Hughes said. "If we've got the governor giving a speech at the old Fort and the train is four blocks away and completely drowns out the people at the Fort, that's a problem."

The inconvenience doesn't stop at events. People could be talking up to a mile from the tracks and have their conversations interrupted because of the noise.

"This isn't about me," he added. "This is about Fort Scott. The whistles are loud and obnoxious."

About seven years ago, the former owner of the Fort Scott Inn, which was then called Best Western, went to the commission complaining about how the noise was affecting his tenants' sleep. Lawyers with the railroad responded by claiming the whistles are necessary and can be blared without restrictions.

Hughes said he talks to employees with the railroad who have told him that they blew the whistle "more than ever" after the manager voiced concern over the issue.