Houston Train Quiet Zone Program

planned

The City of Houston has developed a Quiet Zone Program to reduce train horn noise near neighborhoods by establishing zones where trains are not allowed to blow their horns at road crossings. The program requires installation of additional safety features such as special barriers at intersections. The process involves diagnostic reviews, application filing and review by the Federal Railroad Administration, engineering design development, contractual negotiations with railroads, material acquisition, and scheduling of specialized work crews for construction. The project faces delays and high costs, with each intersection costing about half a million dollars. Funding has been a challenge since 2019, and the city is working in partnership with railroads like Union Pacific.