By Tony Cantú
Contributing Writer

After having gained steam as a concept, the brakes have been applied on envisioned railroad quiet zones for Olmos Park – for now, at least – after logistics and budget concerns arose at the last City Council meeting.

At the March 27 meeting, Councilman Jeff Judson – the council’s biggest proponent for the zone – for the first time gave a formal presentation on the idea to the full board.

Judson outlined his support for the idea, but conceded various roadblocks have already emerged to prevent making the zone a reality.

The main issues are that San Antonio officials are hesitant to help pay for a prerequisite traffic study on affected residential areas, particularly now as they’re in the throes of hammering out their budget, and Olmos Park Terrace residents have expressed concern over possible street closures if quiet zones are established, Judson conceded.

“I feel certain there is an option that would require no street closures,” Judson said, outlining various options for infrastructure improvements short of that step. As for San Antonio’s hesitancy: “There’s no way they’re going to pay for it themselves,” he said, reiterating the likely need for Olmos Park to share half the cost of a study.

In recent weeks, Judson has floated around the idea for quiet zones, which would ban train horns from being used within earshot of certain neighborhoods as they traveled past Olmos Park. Toward that end, he has proposed quiet zones at each of the four main railroad crossings within city limits at Basse Road, McCullough Avenue and Dora and Zilla streets.

In pitching the idea, Judson has noted some 40 trains traverse through town every day – an average of 18 during daylight hours and 11 at night by one count – creating a noise-filled environment and adversely affecting property values.

Judson has secured support for the measure from several residents. But when nitty-gritty details were asked of him during his presentation, enthusiasm soon waned.

“There are a lot of issues that surface with what you are suggesting,” said Councilwoman Harriet Oppenheimer, referring specifically to the possibility of street closures if zones were implemented.

Council member Ron Tefteller suggested council first seek input from city engineers before taking any action on the matter, although he added, “I think everybody in Olmos Park would love for there to be a quiet zone.”

Given the lack of details as to making zones a reality, Mayor Gerald Dubinski, Sr. suggested staging a special meeting on the matter for sometime in April, an idea to which the other council members were amenable.

“Council is not ready to say no, but it’s not ready to say yes with the information we have,” Dubinski said.

In a prior interview, Judson conceded the measure would cost a considerable amount of money, depending on the sorts of modifications that would be required at the various crossings. Required federal approval to establish zones hinges on specific types of modifications made on affected streets.

Given its lack of business storefronts, the Basse/Dora crossing would require the simplest modifications – concrete curbs in the middle of the street running perpendicular to the tracks 60 feet out in each direction, Judson said.

Conversely, Zilla and McCullough would be the most problematic – Zilla alone requiring not just a concrete slab, but another curb allowing only southbound turns from Zilla to Main Street. The street might have to be closed altogether at the intersection nearest the tracks, Judson said.

And the numerous side streets intersecting with McCullough – West Mandaley, Oran, East Mandalay and West Side Drive among them – would yield further challenges requiring the possibility of spending into the “…hundreds of thousands,” of dollars, Judson said.

The mayor ended discussion by tabling the issue.