Quiets zones are going into effect for downtown Orlando, where residents will likely be happy not hearing the horns anymore.
Quiet zones are public grade crossings in which trains do not blow their horns during normal operation. Grade crossings within SunRail corridor’s Quiet Zones are equipped with supplemental safety measures, including active warning devices, flashing lights and gates. Quiet Zones are initiated by communities seeking to decrease noise levels resulting from the Federal Railroad Administration Train Horn Rule that requires train engineers to sound horns in advance of all public grade crossings.
Because trains pass through Quiet Zones without blowing their horns, it’s important to avoid all distractions around train tracks, whether working, driving, or cycling. When approaching any railroad grade crossing, remember do not stop on the tracks. Do not cross the stop bar, which is the solid white line before any striping, unless there is adequate space for your vehicle opposite the tracks.
If you are crossing as gates begin to lower, continue to move forward and do not stop. The gate in front of you, called the exit gate, will lower after a time delay of approximately eight seconds, giving your vehicle time to complete crossing the tracks. If your vehicle is stopped between the gates and you feel trapped, it is best to proceed even if it means breaking the gate in front of you, rather than remain in the path of an oncoming train.
Quiet Zones are also in effect in Winter Park.
