Town Of Wakefield: Broadway Crossing Will Open With Quiet-Zone Status This Weekend

Press release from the Town of Wakefield:

October 29, 2021 - 12:36pm

After an extensive application and approval process, the Broadway rail crossing will officially open early Saturday morning with quiet-zone status. Wakefield’s Amended Public Authority Application submission was formally approved by the Federal Railroad Administration and the statutory notification period has concluded. We appreciate the patience of residents and businesses during this process.

The Town will seek funds at Town Meeting on November 6 to perform additional upgrades at the crossing as well as new sidewalks for the length of Broadway. We anticipate an earmark from the Federal Government for $1.25 million to fund quad gates at the Broadway Crossing.  A quad gate has a gate mechanism on both sides of the tracks for both directions of automotive traffic and restricts intentional circumvention of the gates. Though not required for this reopening, the improvements will ensure that Wakefield’s risk index remains at an appropriate level and no issues arise during regularly scheduled safety reviews.

Although we fully expect receipt of these funds, we will request Town funds at the spring 2022 Town Meeting if the earmark does not come to fruition.  We may also apply for grant funding or utilize Town resources to perform additional upgrades to enhance the safety of Wakefield’s other crossings. Learn more about Town Meeting and the meeting Warrant. 

Residents should know that even in a quiet zone, conductors can exercise discretion during emergency situations, like the presence of a vehicle or a person on the track. Under federal regulations, locomotives horns must sound to warn railroad maintenance employees when work is being performed on the rails. 

This press release was produced by the Town of Wakefield.The views expressed here are the author’s own.