SALT LAKE CITY — Quiet zones at all railroad crossings from Ogden to Provo have been suspended after "deficiencies" were found during recent inspections by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
The Utah Transit Authority and Union Pacific released a joint statement Tuesday about a new safety measure they're implementing from the Federal Railroad Administration.
FOX 13 News spoke with Salt Lake City residents about what they think of horns sounding day or night.
“I definitely think it’s going to bother young kids and it’s definitely going to impact sleep schedules for early mornings, because hearing a loud blare all night isn’t going to be fun,” said Malakai Nelson.
The FRA found “deficiencies” in recent inspections, but didn't give specifics on what they were. Those deficiencies put designated quiet zones out of compliance, which means more sounds from the crossings.
UTA FrontRunners and freight trains must use their horns at crossings until the required maintenance is done to meet the FRA's standards.
“As a person who’s very much a night person, I feel like I’m definitely going to hear it and get very annoyed by it because I’m up constantly throughout the night,” said Nelson.
Not everyone hates the idea of using the horns, however. Leonard Romero shared how he feels the city keeps growing, and this practice increases safety.
"I’m used to them. I’m glad they’re using the whistles because there’s a lot more traffic with all these brand new condos,” said Romero. “Just so it’s safe for everybody. There’s a lot of foot traffic; there’s a lot of bike traffic."
Since the switch, people have taken to social media with their concerns about noisy nights.
“I understand people need their sleep. It’s important for our health, too,” said Romero.
The FRA knows it's an inconvenience and apologized. But until cities can get in compliance, you might need to get some earplugs.
