New Lenox Approves $92,954 Purchase for Railroad Quiet Zone Delineators

New Lenox Village Board Meeting | June 8, 2026

Article Summary: The New Lenox Village Board on June 8 waived formal bidding and approved a purchase of about $92,954 for quiet-zone delineators at several railroad crossings, with installation expected within roughly a month ahead of a federal review.

Quiet Zone Key Points:

• The board approved a $92,954.30 purchase for railroad crossing delineators after waiving the formal bidding process.
• Crossings cited included Gougar, Old Hickory, Cedar and Vine.
• Officials said installation would not require road closures at most locations, possibly only a flagger.
• After installation and striping, the village must submit to the Federal Railroad Administration, which has a 30-day response window.

NEW LENOX — The New Lenox Village Board on Monday, June 8, 2026, approved the purchase of quiet-zone delineators for several railroad crossings at a cost of $92,954.30, after first voting to waive the formal bidding process.

Civil Engineer Will Nash told the board the delineators are the same model the village uses at its other quiet-zone locations, and he asked the board to waive formal bidding so the village could buy more of the matching equipment and keep a surplus on hand. Nash said prices were “a little bit higher” than in recent years but similar to past purchases. The board waived the bid process on a voice vote, then approved the purchase in a unanimous roll-call vote on a motion by Reiser, seconded by Trustee Katie Christopherson.

Nash said he hoped to have the delineators, signs and striping installed within the next month or so, after which the village would submit its work to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). He said the FRA has a 30-day window to respond, and that he was hopeful the quiet zone could be in effect within about two and a half months. He added that the FRA notifies train operators on the line of where the quiet zone begins and ends, though horns will still sound in certain circumstances.

Public Works Director Mark Brow said installation would not require closing the affected roads. Officials said most of the crossings — citing Gougar, Old Hickory and Cedar — have medians or islands that keep crews out of the travel lanes, with Vine the possible exception, where a flagger might be used.

In response to a board question about upkeep, Nash said maintenance needs vary by location: farm equipment regularly knocks down delineators at some crossings, and Street Superintendent Sean Vandenbergh typically replaces damaged units in the fall. Nash said that is part of why the village ordered extra units for this project.