2004 Year in Review

Morrison to implement Quiet Zone

Morrison will implement a "Quiet Zone".

Morrison City Council voted to designate Morrison as a “Quiet Zone”. A December 18, 2003 ruling by the Federal Railway Administration paved the way for communities to get the designation. Train engineers will only blow their horns when safety is a concern.

The City must put supplemental safety measures at four of their six crossings. Sawyer Road, Jackson, Orange, and Heaton Streets will all have 48” plastic medians from the crossings to 60’ back on each side. The only other safety measure will be signage on each crossing. No crossing closings are required. The cost of the improvements is expected around $40,000. December 18, 2004, is the target date for implementation.

An engineering group that works on the crossing told City Administer Joe Woith that Sawyer Road had the most individuals going around the existing barriers in the area and they recommended having the extra safety measures. Both Cherry and Genesee will not have the barriers. The lumberyard on Genesee would have a hard time doing business with the barriers and Cherry Street is a State of Illinois road.

An advisory group under Larry Franson had been working for the council toward this goal. Now it will be up to the council to implement the program.

by Barb Benson, theCity1.com
March 15, 2004