If you're like me, you're tired of hearing nearly 300 train whistles per night and 240 during the day.  The Norfolk Southern train whistle noise in Hummelstown is extremely disturbing and harmful.  I recently proposed to the South Hanover Township Board of Supervisors and wrote a letter to the Hummelstown Borough Council Members that inexpensive mountable medians with reflective traffic channelization devices should be installed at public crossings which will allow for a creation of a quiet zone.

The Problem:
Imagine lying in bed, eyes shut, trying to fall asleep after a long day at work, only to be startled by the loud whistling of a passing train. Night after night, numerous times day and night, our residents endure this. The relentless noise isn’t just an inconvenience; it's a severe threat to our well-being.

Chronic exposure to train noise has been linked to significant health issues. It disrupts sleep patterns, leading to insomnia, elevated stress levels, and fatigue. Over time, poor sleep quality can exacerbate heart conditions, high blood pressure, and weaken the immune system. This constant disturbance affects everyone—seniors, children, working professionals, and students—causing irritability, decreased productivity, and impaired cognitive function.

Creating a quiet zone is a necessity, not a luxury. It ensures our community gets the rest it deserves, fostering a healthier, more productive environment. Let’s prioritize our well-being and ensure our nights are restful and our days are brighter by implementing this essential change.

The Plan:
The creation of a quiet zone requires that the crossing is under the established nationwide significant risk threshold (NSRT) which is 15488.  The current risk index for the crossing with the existing two arm gates and horn utilization is 15619.44 at Overview Drive, 11,689.18 for Railroad Street and 12,374.06 for Duke Street. (It's not a good thing to be above the significant risk threshold!)  By installing mountable medians with reflective traffic channelization devices, a supplemental safety measure, the risk index drops to 6513.31 for Overview Drive, 4874.39 for Railroad Street and 5159.98 for Duke Street, which is well under the NSRT.  Installing this SSM will not only allow for the quiet zone to be established but will also greatly increase the safety of the crossings.  These calculations were performed using the Federal Railroad Administration’s Quiet Zone Calculator, which can be found here: https://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/quiet/ 

This type of supplemental safety measure was recently installed the intersection as an extension to a median at Paxton St (322) and Mushroom Hill Rd in Swatara Township near Wal-Mart. One distributor of these devices for this application can be found at this website: https://qwickkurb.com/railroad-quiet-zone/#:~:text=Creating%20a%20railroad%20quiet%20zone,gate%20rushes%20by%2070%25 

By installing the SSMs, we will be qualified to create quiet zones and improve the health and safety of our community.

Let your Borough and Township Leaders know you would like to see a change! Sign this petition and also contact your community leaders!
Contact Hummelstown Borough: https://www.hummelstown.net/index.asp?SEC=08F544FB-5032-4499-954F-F4E2150FD20B
Contact South Hanover Township:
https://www.southhanover.org/index.php

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