Politics & Government

Trains to Quiet Horns While Passing Through Rosemount

Beginning today, residents should notice a reduction in train horns sounding throughout the city.

The sounding of locomotive horns should be noticeably reduced in Rosemount under a “quiet zone” that took effect this morning.

The City of Rosemount worked with the rail lines that operate in the community to create the zone through improvements at railroad crossings. The quiet zone covers the area along the main tracks in the residential portion of the City from Akron Avenue to 160th Street West.  

Engineers operating in the quiet zone are exempted from federal regulations that generally require the sounding of horns when approaching crossings. The zone is in effect 24 hours a day.

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“The Rosemount City Council has been hearing complaints from residents regarding excessive horn blasts for many years,” said Mayor Bill Droste. “The council decided several years ago that we would make the investments to establish ‘quiet zones’ to improve the quality of life for our residents. Although the process took much longer than we anticipated, residents can now enjoy quieter neighborhoods.”

The city improved several crossings in the last few years to qualify for designation by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) of a quiet zone.  Further improvements will be done this spring to the 160th Street crossing at the south city limits, but that work will not delay the start of the quiet zone.

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Two of the rail lines operating in Rosemount, Canadian Pacific and Union Pacific Railroad, have formally notified the city that they are aware the quiet zone is taking effect and that they will abide by it.

In some cases, train horns will still be heard in the quiet zone. Locomotive engineers will be allowed to sound their horns if they see an emergency situation, such as a person or vehicle on the tracks. Engineers are also required to sound their horns to warn crews working on the line. 

Signs are posted at crossings in the zone to warn vehicle drivers that they may not hear the horn of an approaching train. Police will strictly enforce the rules against crossing the tracks when signals are flashing.

More information about Rosemount’s quiet zone is available at the city’s website, under “City departments,” “Public Works / Engineering.”

Editor's note: Information provided by a city news release.


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