In December 2011 the Council voted 7-0 to approve an order to authorize a supplemental appropriation of $130,000 from the undesignated fund balance for railroad crossing upgrades.
These funds would pay for improvements to four railroad crossings along the Pan Am Railways line in order to maintain (and expand) a so-called “Quiet Zone” (QZ) in Falmouth in anticipation of increased frequency and speed of trains when the Amtrak Downeaster train service starts.
In June 2012 staff gave the Council an update on the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority's start of Amtrak Downeaster train service on or around November 1, 2012. The Council affirmed its interest to install the proposed crossing upgrades and make the necessary notifications to the Federal Railroad Administration and other parties.
Staff has continued to work on this matter and provides another update in the attached staff memo, dated October 16, 2012.
The Falmouth Police Department has partnered with Operation Life Saver to offer opportunities for rail road crossing safety advocacy. Sgt. Kevin Conger has received extensive training and offered rail road safety training classes to more than 450 students and presented to other organizations such as the Rotary Club. There will be another rail road safety training forum on October 30 at 6:00 PM in the Town Council Chambers. This forum is open to the public and will be broadcast on Falmouth Cable TV 2. Nearly 200 invitations are being mailed to owners of property that are within 500 feet of the Pan Am Rail Road corridor in West Falmouth. |
