(January 3, 2011) The City of Frisco has completed the process to
establish a railroad ‘quiet zone,’ which will take effect at five railroad
crossings in the city beginning Wednesday, January 5. The ‘quiet zone’
designation means train engineers will no longer sound a train’s horn when
approaching the following street-level crossings, except in the case of an
emergency:
• Southbound Dallas Parkway
• Northbound Dallas Parkway
• Frisco Square Boulevard
• Main Street
• All Stars Avenue
“Some of Frisco’s neighborhoods developed around rail lines that have been
operating for decades,” said Brian Moen, Assistant Director of Engineering
Services/Transportation. “Unless a crossing is designated as a ‘quiet
zone,’ federal law requires train engineers to sound the horn 15 to 20
seconds prior to reaching a crossing. The ‘quiet zone’ designation will
stop most of the unwanted train noise for these residents.”
The City of Frisco has been working since 2007 with the help of Burlington
Northern Santa Fe Railroad (BNSF) to make intersection improvements and
upgrades at the railroad crossings that would meet the Federal Railroad
Administration’s (FRA) Train Horn Rule design and certification
requirements. To meet FRA standards, the city had to make sure each
crossing had certain supplemental safety measures in place including
gates, flashing lights and median barriers.
“Once the quiet zone is in effect, motorists still need to follow the
same safety rules they have always followed at railroad crossings,” said
Moen. “Trains are approaching these crossings when the gates are down
even though the horns can no longer be heard. You should never attempt to
go around or under an active railroad gate.”
In addition, warning signs indicating there is no train horn will be
installed on January 4 before the ‘quiet zone’ takes effect. Train
engineers may still sound the horn to provide warning to animals, vehicle
operators, trespassers or crews on other trains in an emergency situation.
During the first few weeks of the quiet zone, it is possible that
residents will occasionally hear the train horn sounded at these
crossings. It can take time for all of the train engineers to receive
information that a quiet zone has been established. If residents continue
to hear the horn after the first few weeks, they can notify the City of
Frisco Engineering Department at 972-292-5400.
Courtesy of City of Frisco
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Monday, January 3, 2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Protect Your Fence...Winterizing is Important
Why winterizing your fence is an important part of home maintenance
(ARA) - Winter rain and storms take a toll on metal gate hardware. Inexpensive gravity latches function fine when new. However, as soon as rust sets in or gates fall out of alignment, these latches no longer close without manual assistance.
A well-maintained fence can protect your home and possessions, prevent young children and pets from venturing out of your yard without your knowledge, and keep unwelcome intruders out.
A fence that has been allowed to deteriorate, particularly if the gate no longer closes and latches securely, is a liability. It won't provide constant reminders that repairs are needed, like a leaking roof, but it still needs to be fixed. You could be subjected to a lawsuit if someone enters your property, even without your permission, and is injured. A well-maintained fence surrounding your property can reduce that liability.
Professional fencing contractors can be consulted for minor repairs, as well as new or replacement fencing, but there are many "do-it-yourself" steps homeowners can take to preserve the appearance as well as extend the useful life of their fences.
For wood fencing:
* Protect against dry rot. If it's already invaded the wood, pry or cut the damaged section out, scrub the remaining fence with mild detergent or diluted bleach and replace the section you removed with the same type of wood that was used in the original fence. Then, prime and paint or stain the entire fence.
For metal fencing:
* Powder-coated aluminum needs little maintenance, but if the coating has worn off in areas, it will need to be sealed and repainted before winter weather causes the metal to rust.
* Steel or wrought iron fencing needs to be repainted when it rusts. Use a stiff metal brush to remove rust, wash thoroughly, then prime and paint with a rust-proof paint.
Gates and gate hardware are the only moveable parts on a fence system, so they're subject to the most wear and tear. Rust and gate misalignment are the most common problems that prevent latches from engaging properly. If the gate does not latch each time it's closed, the entire fence is ineffective.
Selecting the right gate hardware can prevent most of these problems. An investment in quality when buying new, or when replacing defective or old hardware, can mean that little or no maintenance needs to be done to the gate. Gate hinges and latches by D&D Technologies, made of strong engineering polymers and stainless steel that will not rust, are adjustable during and after installation to easily correct for gate alignment issues in seconds.
It takes just a few minutes to update your gates so they close automatically after opening (self-closing) and the gate latch engages without manual effort (self-latching), improving the security and overall look of your fence. Most D&D latches feature built-in key locks, which eliminate the hassle and extra cost of a separate padlock or pull-string. The company's hinges have a built-in self-closing spring that is tension adjustable for different gate weights with a twist of a screwdriver.
The gate is the only part of the fence that is used daily. Ensuring that your fences and gates are functioning properly and are protected from rust is an essential part of maintaining your property.
(ARA) - Winter rain and storms take a toll on metal gate hardware. Inexpensive gravity latches function fine when new. However, as soon as rust sets in or gates fall out of alignment, these latches no longer close without manual assistance.
A well-maintained fence can protect your home and possessions, prevent young children and pets from venturing out of your yard without your knowledge, and keep unwelcome intruders out.
A fence that has been allowed to deteriorate, particularly if the gate no longer closes and latches securely, is a liability. It won't provide constant reminders that repairs are needed, like a leaking roof, but it still needs to be fixed. You could be subjected to a lawsuit if someone enters your property, even without your permission, and is injured. A well-maintained fence surrounding your property can reduce that liability.
Professional fencing contractors can be consulted for minor repairs, as well as new or replacement fencing, but there are many "do-it-yourself" steps homeowners can take to preserve the appearance as well as extend the useful life of their fences.
For wood fencing:
* Protect against dry rot. If it's already invaded the wood, pry or cut the damaged section out, scrub the remaining fence with mild detergent or diluted bleach and replace the section you removed with the same type of wood that was used in the original fence. Then, prime and paint or stain the entire fence.
For metal fencing:
* Powder-coated aluminum needs little maintenance, but if the coating has worn off in areas, it will need to be sealed and repainted before winter weather causes the metal to rust.
* Steel or wrought iron fencing needs to be repainted when it rusts. Use a stiff metal brush to remove rust, wash thoroughly, then prime and paint with a rust-proof paint.
Gates and gate hardware are the only moveable parts on a fence system, so they're subject to the most wear and tear. Rust and gate misalignment are the most common problems that prevent latches from engaging properly. If the gate does not latch each time it's closed, the entire fence is ineffective.
Selecting the right gate hardware can prevent most of these problems. An investment in quality when buying new, or when replacing defective or old hardware, can mean that little or no maintenance needs to be done to the gate. Gate hinges and latches by D&D Technologies, made of strong engineering polymers and stainless steel that will not rust, are adjustable during and after installation to easily correct for gate alignment issues in seconds.
It takes just a few minutes to update your gates so they close automatically after opening (self-closing) and the gate latch engages without manual effort (self-latching), improving the security and overall look of your fence. Most D&D latches feature built-in key locks, which eliminate the hassle and extra cost of a separate padlock or pull-string. The company's hinges have a built-in self-closing spring that is tension adjustable for different gate weights with a twist of a screwdriver.
The gate is the only part of the fence that is used daily. Ensuring that your fences and gates are functioning properly and are protected from rust is an essential part of maintaining your property.
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