Stonington - The Board of Selectmen has agreed to ask the Board of Finance for an additional appropriation to assemble a team to prepare an application seeking federal rail approval of quiet zones at Walker's Dock and Freeman's Crossing.

The quiet zones would prohibit trains from sounding their whistles.

The board agreed to proceed even though First Selectman Ed Haberek expressed concern the town does not have the money in its budget for the work, which he warned would be costly.

Fifty-nine residents have petitioned the town to seek approval for the change, which residents have been asking for since 2012. The town had made efforts to contact the Federal Railroad Administration, but progress was slow until Haberek asked U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, for help this past summer. The FRA then informed the town what it must do to seek the change.

Two of the items are detailed diagnostic testing and a traffic study, the latter of which Haberek said could cost between $30,000 and $50,000.

The crossings also would likely have to be upgraded to improve safety if the whistles were silenced.

The town has a quiet zone from Broadway in Mystic to Palmer's Crossing in Pawcatuck - with the exception of the private crossings at Walker's Dock and Freeman's Crossing, which are just east of the borough.

Residents have said the whistle noise reaches 100 decibels in the area.

Haberek asked his fellow selectmen who would be doing the study and stressed the town would have to ask the finance board for an additional appropriation because the money is not in the budget. Voters also would have to approve the additional funding.

"Where is the money for this diagnostic team coming from, Mr. Simmons?" Haberek asked Republican Selectman Rob Simmons. "Go tell your colleague Mr. (Republican finance board Chairman Glenn) Frishman you need the money."

"I get to leave here in two weeks, but if Mr. Simmons and Mr. (Selectman George) Crouse are comfortable with spending the money ... that's up to them," said Haberek, who is slated to resign Dec. 5.

j.wojtas@theday.com

Twitter: @joewojtas