Frequently Asked Questions

A quiet zone is a section of a rail line at least one-half mile in length that contains one or more consecutive public highway-rail grade crossings at which locomotive horns are not routinely sounded when trains are approaching the crossings. The prohibited use of train horns at quiet zones only applies to trains when approaching and entering crossings and does not include train horn use within passenger stations or rail yards. Train horns may be sounded in emergency situations or to comply with other railroad or Federal Railroad Administration rules even within a quiet zone. Quiet zone regulations also do not eliminate the use of locomotive bells at crossings. Communities wishing to establish quiet zones must work through the appropriate public authority that is responsible for traffic control or law enforcement at the crossings.

In response to an increase in nighttime collisions at locations with state whistle bans, a federal law was developed (finalized in 2005) that requires trains to sound their horns as they approach all public crossings.

The FRA's Train Horn Rule defines the required timing and duration of train horns' sound. The given sound range is 96 decibels to 110 decibels. By comparison, according to a chart from the FRA, a car driving 40 mph, 50 feet away, would be in the 60- to 70-decibel range and a blender would be in the 70- to 80-decibel range.

According to numbers from Canadian National and Amtrak, train traffic is the following: Elm Street to McCamly Street, CN line -- 25 freight, 8 Amtrak, 3 Norfolk Southern Michigan Avenue, CN crossing -- 25 freight, 2 Amtrak Kendall Street, CN crossing -- 25 freight Kendall Street, Michigan line crossing -- 8 Amtrak, 3 NS As an example: Taking the total number of trains from Elm to McCamly, 36, multiplied by the number of horn blasts required by the federal Train Horn Rule -- two long, one short, one long (four) -- there are currently 864 horn blasts per day in this section. There are six crossings from Elm to McCamly.

One of the requirements of a Quiet Zone is to ensure that the crossings are as safe or more so than if a train was sounding its horn on approach. There are a variety of safety measure options entities can use to accomplish this and vary by crossing. In addition to the required two-quadrant gates, lights and bells, improvements could be four-quadrant gates, raised curbs in the median, channelization and wayside horns. Entities also can choose to close a public crossing, removing the requirement for a train to sound its horn on approach.

Closing a crossing is one way to reduce the safety risk enough to make up for a train not sounding its horn. These closures represent a significant portion of the risk reduction required to implement the Quiet Zone here. Additionally, this action will begin the process wherein the city will be eligible for closure incentive funds from federal and state agencies, as well as local railroads.

We hope to complete the project by the end of 2016. This timeline includes setting a schedule to make the safety improvements at each crossing, as well as comment periods from state and federal agencies, stakeholders and the railroad companies that run on these rail lines.

The budget for the project is $3.5 million, which already is in place through a previous bond issue. City staff are working with engineers from OHM Advisors to develop a preliminary budget and plan to bid out the improvements in early April. Work and improvements on railroad property will be done by the railroads via a reimbursable agreement.

Yes, but only in an emergency or when the engineer sees an obstacle on the track.

Check out more information at the Federal Railroad Administration website, by clicking on the link below to the Train Horn Rule and Quiet Zone page.