Railroad quiet zone
The City has worked with BNSF Railway and regulatory agencies for the last several years, in order to gain approval for creating a Railroad Quiet Zone in Louisville.
What is a Railroad Quiet Zone?
A Railroad Quiet Zone is a section of rail line that contains one or more consecutive public crossings. In these crossings, locomotive horns will not be routinely sounded. The City created improvements at these crossings:
- Dillon Road
- Pine Street
- Griffith Street
- South Boulder Road
The Quiet Zone went into effect on May 23, 2022. Locomotives will no longer regularly sound the train horn when passing through the crossings. Bells at the top of the railroad gate poles will continue to sound, because these are important warning devices for pedestrians and bicyclists. Please pay close attention to warning flashing lights and gates.
You may still hear the horn in case there are any hazards on the track (i.e. people or animals on the track).
Responsibilities of all road users
Please keep these safety reminders in mind at a railroad crossing:
- Always look both ways before crossing railroad tracks
- Pay attention to railroad gates, flashers, and bells at a railroad crossing
- Remember that the locomotive engineers do have the authority, even in a Quiet Zone, to use the locomotive horn if they see a hazard on or near the tracks