The City’s first railroad quiet zone was made official on July 6, 2021.

The quiet zone, which restricts train operators from blowing their horns, includes the area between County Road 172 and Burnet Road. The process to implement the quiet zone included nine years of coordination with Union Pacific Railroad and the Federal Railroad Administration and four years of construction.

Safety improvements were made at each of the five intersections within the quiet zone, as required by federal regulations and quiet zone mandates. Most of the intersections received four crossing arms instead of the typical two, in addition to constructed medians that restrict cross access. The red flashing lights are also triggered even sooner than at a typical rail crossing.

Train operators are still permitted to sound their horns in an emergency situation.

The second quiet zone phase between Burnet Road and Red Bud Lane is expected to be made official by the end of 2021.