The RTD FasTracks Northwest Rail Environmental Evaluation is moving forward with its analysis of noise impacts.  Thus far, the project has held a series of Public Meetings and Technology Workshops, where the public has expressed concern about noise impacts along the corridor and suggested ways to address them. The primary purpose of the Environmental Evaluation is to assess environmental impacts, such as noise, and propose mitigation measures for them.

In addition, at its meetings on Tuesday, October 16, 2007, the RTD Board adopted the "Responsible Rail Amendment" which includes a provision that requires RTD to work with railroads and local communities to address the noise concerns of residents along the Northwest Rail corridor, including assisting the local jurisdictions in the Quiet Zones application process and finding all possible funding sources to cover costs associated with efforts to implement them along the Northwest Rail corridor.

As the Environmental Evaluation moves forward, the Project Team will further address the noise impacts of commuter rail, including identifying appropriate noise mitigations and working with the local jurisdictions to possibly implement Quiet Zones. Additional information and findings will be available and shared with the public through a series of public meetings, anticipated in the Summer of 2009.