Published in the June 15, 2021 edition.

By MARK SARDELLA

WAKEFIELD — While he was not able to provide the news that everyone wants to hear regarding the opening of the Broadway commuter rail crossing, Town Engineer Bill Renault did provide an update to the Town Council last night and closed with a note of optimism.

Renault began with a review of what led to the current situation.

After some joint construction at the crossing by National Grid and the town, in November 2020 the Federal Railroad Administration notified the town that it could not reopen Broadway crossing and maintain its Quiet Zone, whereby trains will not sound their horns when approaching road crossings.

This was due to the fact that the agency had determined that the town was not meeting the FRA’s required threshold of safety measures at its crossings to keep its quiet Zone status. Renault stressed that the Quiet Zone is based on an average of all of the town’s crossings. But due to a serious accident there several years ago, Broadway was deemed the most dangerous crossing and therefore was the one that would have to remain closed to preserve the town’s Quiet Zone.

The Broadway crossing has remained closed through a series of submittals from Renault to the FRA beginning last December in an effort to bring the town’s crossings up to standards where the FRA would allow the re-opening of Broadway while maintaining the Quiet Zone status. Renault said that the first response he got from the FRA to any of his proposed alternative safety measures was in May.

In May, the FRA said that they disagreed with Renault’s  safety calculations regarding the Prospect Street crossing and asked for additional protections at other crossings.

Renault said that he then submitted proposed measures for the Greenwood Street crossing, but the FRA asked for more, including some changes at the Forest Street crossing.

Renault outlined the changes he has proposed for Greenwood Street and Forest Street.

The Greenwood Street measure involves installing a median on the west side of the tracks.

A new sidewalk bump out was proposed at Main Street/Forest Street intersection along with installing a new 17-foot center median at the Main/Forest intersection as a new 20-foot center median between Atwood Street and the tracks.

Renault also reviewed two options for Broadway that he has proposed based on the FRA’s feedback. Both involve installing new medians and sidewalks.

Renault said that he was able to speak directly to the FRA’s Quiet Zone reviewer for the first time last week, whereas previously all communication had been done through the FRA’s regional representative.

Another conversation with the FRA Quiet Zone Reviewer and Staff Director is scheduled for this week, Renault said. He said that the new alternative safety measures may trigger a new 60-day appeal period, but he expressed hope that it could be waived, given all the delays thus far.

He said that the town is ready to begin installation of any required improvements as soon as they get the approval of the FRA.

While not required for the opening of Broadway, Renault said that he plans to request funding for the design and construction of quad gate systems at the Fall Town Meeting. Installing quad gate systems will bring the town well within the Quiet Zone threshold and help avoid future closures of crossings.

For now, he said, the only way for the town to retain its Quiet Zone is to keep the Broadway crossing closed.

Renault acknowledged that the FRA has “moved the goal line” several times throughout the process.

Town Councilor Ann Santos said that if the town continues to get stymied, consideration may have to be given to opening Broadway and losing the town’s Quiet Zone status. She acknowledged that doing that would not be a popular decision.

Renault stressed that if the town loses its Quiet Zone, it means that train horns won’t just be sounded at one crossing, but at all six crossings: Greenwood Street, Forest Street, Broadway, Albion Street, Chestnut Street and Prospect Street.

Despite everything, Renault told the Town Council last night that he is feeling “more optimistic” about the prospect of reaching agreement with the FRA.