SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1580        FILED ON: 1/14/2009

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1960

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act assisting towns to create quiet zones for at-grade rail crossings..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. The General Laws, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, are hereby amended by adding the following new Chapter:

Chapter 161E

Section 1. Subject to appropriation, the Secretary of Transportation shall create a Quiet Zone Assistance Grant.  Any public authority eligible to apply for the creation of a “Quiet Zone” as defined by the United States Secretary of Transportation under authority of 49 U.S.C. 20153 may apply for a Quiet Zone Assistance Grant for financial aid for the improvements necessary to create said Quiet Zone.  Eligible improvements must meet the standards specified by 49 U.S.C. 20153 and the United States Secretary of Transportation for said Quiet Zones, and may include, but are not limited to, Four-Quadrant Gate Systems, Gates with Medians or Channelization Devices, One-Way Streets with Gates, Photographic enforcement, Programmed Enforcements, and Public Education and Awareness programs.  Any public authority may be eligible for a Quiet Zone Assistance Grant up to fifty percent of the total cost to implement a new Quiet Zone.