After hearing a piece about "Quiet Zones" on NPR this past Saturdary morning, I googled "quiet zones on trains" and found this page on the Federal Railroad Administration's website. I wonder whether we can implement horn-free zones here in Jeffco under this ruling instead of being wakened at all hours by these loud horns. Here's the web page text -- go to the page itself at http://www.fra.dot.gov/Pages/1318.shtml for links within FRA's website giving more details:
Final Rule on the Use of Locomotive Horns at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings
In response to a legislative mandate, FRA has issued a Final Rule on the Use of Locomotive Horns at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings. This final rule, which requires that locomotive horns be sounded as a warning to highway users at public highway-rail crossings, took effect on June 24, 2005. The final rule provides an opportunity, not available until now, for thousands of localities nationwide to mitigate the effects of train horn noise by establishing new "quiet zones." The rule also details actions communities with pre-existing "whistle bans" can take to preserve the quiet they have become accustomed to.
Had the government not instituted a new rule a couple years ago requiring train horns to be much louder, you wouldn't be hearing those horns at all hours.
ReplyDeleteQuiet zones are nice, and safer, but much more expensive than putting up with the noise. In this economy, with budget shortfalls and the financial shenanigans that go along with it, can anyone afford the quiet zone solution for their neighborhood?