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Yesterday, the Orange North-American Trade Rail Access Corridor (OnTrac) Joint Powers Authority held a ceremony to mark the construction of quiet zones in Anaheim and Placentia, Calif.

The authority accepted bids on the project Oct. 19 and expects to award a contract next month.

The work includes improving eight Burlington Northern Santa Fe grade crossings by installing warning signals and control systems. After the project's completed, railroads no longer will be required to sound horns when passing through the quiet zones because of the Federal Railroad Administration's new train horn rules.

OnTrac representatives are working with FRA, California Public Utilities Commission, BNSF and Metrolink officials to design safety improvements and supplemental safety measures, such as raised and extended-length concrete traffic medians, three- and four-quadrant gates, traffic pre-signals, and warning flashers and signage.

The parties also plan to install a video data-collection system, which has been used on other quiet zone projects. FRA, BNSF and city officials will review data to determine if the safety measures are working.

OnTrac received $3.4 million in federal and state funds for the project. The remaining $7 million will be funded by local sources.

The authority governs a portion of the Alameda Corridor East project designed to grade separate 15 streets from BNSF's mainlines in northern Orange County.