After long-standing complaints from residents about train noise, Bristol Borough announced plans on Monday to construct a sound wall along the rail line on Trenton Avenue.
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The plan was discussed during the borough council’s Monday evening meeting. Mayor Ralph DiGuiseppe III revealed the “big announcement” to the community.
The plan is to mitigate noise from the rail line, which includes Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, SEPTA’s Trenton Line, and freight trains, officials said.
The construction has been backed by a $1.7 million grant obtained through Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican.
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According to the congressman’s office, the grant will not only support the construction of a transparent sound barrier between the residential area and the four-rail corridor but also upgrade the existing trail and streetscape along Trenton Avenue to meet Americans with Disabilities (ADA) standards.
DiGuiseppe outlined the scope of the project and noted that the sound wall would stretch from Green Lane to Garfield Street.
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The mayor emphasized that “a lot of leg work,” including sound studies, still needs to be done before the project can move forward.
The mayor shared residents’ frustrations with noise from both passenger and freight trains and said the sound wall would help improve the quality of life in the neighborhood.
“We would love a sound wall. We need a sound wall,” DiGuiseppe stated.
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“There’s engines running. We’ve lived with the passenger trains for years, but its gotten worse with the box cars and freight liners,” DiGuiseppe said.
The mayor took the opportunity to commend the efforts of Fitzpatrick, council members Lorraine Cullen and Greg Pezza, and Borough Manager Jim Dillon for their dedication to addressing the noise complaints.
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In a separate announcement at the meeting, North Ward Council Member Maria Figueroa revealed she is in a battle with cancer. She shared that she would soon begin treatment, and her fellow council members offered their support and offered her prayers.
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