A railroad Quiet Zone may be authorized at Nickajack Road in Smyrna.
The Cobb County Board of Commissioners voted Dec. 12 to pay $5,400 to Norfolk Southern Railway to review the proposal. This joint project with Smyrna would eliminate the need for a train engineer to sound a train horn in the Quiet Zone and possibly close some railroad crossings. While Norfolk Southern Railway would manage the Quiet Zone since it is the governing railroad at this crossing, county and city funds would pay for any fees associated with the Quiet Zone such as elongated crossing arms.
The commissioners will consider an agreement with Smyrna to create the Quiet Zone.
In a related matter, Commissioner Lisa Cupid said consideration still is underway for another Quiet Zone at the railroad crossing near the historic Barnes Store/Hardware at 910 Veterans Memorial Highway in Mableton.
Cobb Department of Transportation Director Jim Wilgus said that crossing may be closed instead.
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