As you may know, the engineering firm of Saratoga Railroad Engineering PC was to have begun the design work for the quiet zone earlier this year. The proposed Norfolk Southern CSX track merger in Voorheesville, if approved, will complicate the design of the quiet zone. The proposal is before the federal Surface Transportation Board (STB) for approval with a decision to be made no later than April 2022.
CSX has stated that the design work for the quiet zone should proceed, presumably for those elements that will not be affected by the track merger. That much is encouraging. However, the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY), which reviews and approves legislatively funded projects such as the quiet zone, has raised a couple of questions for which we are now seeking answers.
At issue is the fact that projects approved by DASNY must be owned or leased by a New York State entity. The railroad crossing gates are typically owned by the railway as well as the land of the crossing, itself. However, as reported in the September 28, 2021 Voorheesville Village Board workshop, CSX has stated it is willing to let Albany County own the gates with the understanding that CSX will be responsible for their maintenance. CSX is preparing a letter to the Albany County Counsel’s Office to include such information. Once the CSX and Albany County attorneys agree on the language of the agreement it will be referred to DASNY.
NOTE: The Altamont Enterprise has done an excellent job covering the Voorheesville Quiet Zone and other railroad issues affecting the Village. Their articles should be consulted for more detailed information.
Steve Schreiber
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