I recently posted 10 questions the RTC really needs to answer about the plans for a trail that prioritizes rail on the unusable train tracks that stretch through Santa Cruz County. This essay focuses on the 9th set of questions: How many 110db horn blasts will occur for a train going one direction to another? How many times a day? What will the hours be? And the 10th set of questions: How much does a quiet zone study cost? How many will be submitted? What will be the cost for the additional infrastructure required to support quiet zones and possible liability for accidents?
As Santa Cruz County continues its long-debated journey toward implementing a passenger train system, the conversation must expand beyond environmental benefits and traffic relief. One issue looms large: the noise generated by train horns, which, at a staggering 110 decibels (dB), can disrupt neighborhoods, damage public tranquility, and raise broader questions about costs and community well-being.
The Noise Reality: Horns and Decibels
Federal regulations mandate that trains sound their horns as they approach and pass through public crossings, with each blast reaching up to 110 dB—louder than a rock concert or jet engine at close range. A single train traveling from Watsonville to Santa Cruz, a route dotted with approximately three dozen crossings, would sound its horn in two long blasts, a short blast and another long blast of its horn at each of the three dozen intersections, or 288 blasts per trip. With projections of multiple daily routes, each direction could involve several thousand horn blasts echoing across neighborhoods from dawn until late at night.
Hours of Operation: The Day Never Ends
Train schedules aim to accommodate commuters, which typically means operating from early morning to late evening. If service runs from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM, communities near the tracks could endure more than 15 hours of intermittent 110 dB noise just from commuter trains (freight trains running overnight could have horns blasting even later!). For those living nearby, this isn't just an inconvenience—it’s a public health concern. Chronic exposure to high-decibel sounds is linked to stress, sleep disturbances, and even cardiovascular issues.
The Quiet Zone Dilemma
"Quiet zones" offer a potential solution, allowing communities to mitigate train noise by implementing safety measures that eliminate the need for mandatory horn use. Establishing a quiet zone, however, is neither simple nor cheap. Studies to assess feasibility typically cost between $30,000 and $50,000 per crossing. Given the number of crossings on the Watsonville-Santa Cruz line, costs for studies alone could quickly escalate into the millions.
Once studies are complete, implementing the necessary infrastructure—like upgraded gates, advanced signaling systems, and pedestrian safety barriers—adds substantially to the bill. These improvements can cost $250,000 to $1 million per crossing. For a route with 3 dozen crossings, the price tag could exceed $20 million, an amount unlikely to be fully covered by state or federal grants. Local taxpayers may ultimately foot the bill. In the end, not every community will get the quiet zones. Will they be equitably distributed? Or will they only be provided to the more affluent neighborhoods?
Liability and Safety Risks
Quiet zones also bring increased liability. Without mandatory horn blasts, accidents at crossings can rise, as pedestrians and vehicles rely solely on visual and structural warnings. In 2023, 38 people lost their lives in train-related incidents across California, a grim reminder of the stakes. Any resulting lawsuits could place additional financial strain on cities and counties, potentially dwarfing the initial investment in quiet zone infrastructure.
Striking the Right Balance
The prospect of passenger trains in Santa Cruz County on the surface appear to provide social benefits, from reducing car emissions to providing an alternative to highway congestion. However, these benefits must be weighed against the noise impact and the financial and safety costs of mitigating that impact. A comprehensive approach is needed, one that ensures community well-being while addressing the realities of funding and safety.
Taking Action
If you share these concerns, now is the time to speak up. Contact your local representatives from the links at linktr.ee/coastaltrail , attend public meetings, and demand a reevaluation of the Rail Trail project. Support grassroots organizations such as Santa Cruz County Greenway sccgreenway.org and the Santa Cruz County Coastal Trail Conservancy coastaltrail.org that are advocating for more fiscally and environmentally responsible solutions. Share your voice through letters to the editor, petitions, and social media campaigns.
Santa Cruz County deserves transparency and accountability as these decisions unfold. How will the noise affect residents’ quality of life? Who will bear the financial burden of quiet zones? And, crucially, how will safety be prioritized in a system that seeks to eliminate horns? The answers to these questions will determine if the train system becomes a noisy burden for our otherwise tranquil county.
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