City of Sugar Land, Texas

Sugar Land intends to create a city-wide Railroad Quiet Zone, with an initial portion to be activated on the earliest date permitted by the regulations, December 18, 2004.  The first phase involves two crossings selected to reduce noise levels in adjacent residential areas.

The railroad line involved is the Union Pacific Railroad's main line between Houston and San Antonio.  Through Sugar Land, it parallels highway US 90A and handles an average of 34 trains per day at speeds up to 60 mph.  The safety devices to be installed at these crossings are "four-quadrant" gates, which will block all lanes in both directions at the crossings.

Woodharbor Associates is assisting Sugar Land in reaching agreement with Union Pacific Railroad on the installation and maintenance of the four-quadrant gates.