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Purpose of the Guide This brochure was developed to serve as a guide for local decision makers seeking a greater understanding of train horn sounding requirements and how to establish quiet zones. Its purpose is to provide a general overview and thus does not contain every detail about the quiet zone establishment process. For more detailed and authoritative information, the reader is encouraged to review the official regulations governing the use of locomotive horns at public highway -rail grade crossings and the establishment of quiet zones that are contained in 49 CFR Part 222. A copy of the rule can be downloaded or printed at http://www.fra.dot.gov/e Lib/Details/1_02809. NO TRAIN HORN About Quiet Zones FRA is committed to reducing the number of collisions at highway -rail grade crossings, while establishing a consistent standard for communities who opt to preserve or enhance quality of life for their residents by establishing quiet zones within which routine use of train horns at crossings is prohibited. Federal regulation requires that locomotive horns begin sounding 15-20 seconds before entering public highway -rail grade crossings, no more than one-quarter mile in advance. Only a public authority, the governmental entity responsible for traffic control or law en- forcement at the crossings, is permitted to create quiet zones. A quiet zone is a section of a rail line at least one-half mile in length that contains one or more consecutive public highway -rail grade crossings at which locomotive horns are not routinely sounded when trains are approaching the crossings. The prohibited use of train horns at quiet zones only applies to trains when approaching and entering crossings and does not include train horn use within passenger stations or rail yards. Train horns may be sounded in emergency situations or to comply with other railroad or FRA rules even within a quiet zone. Quiet zone regulations also do not eliminate the use of locomotive bells at crossings. Therefore, a more appropriate description of a designated quiet zone would be a "reduced train horn area." Communities wishing to establish quiet zones must work through the appropriate public authority that is responsible for traffic control or law enforcement at the crossings.