LEHI, Utah (ABC4) — Train horns across the Wasatch Front are one step to closer to being silenced and the designated Quiet Zone reinstated nearly two months after being lifted, according to an update from Lehi City.
Trains with the Utah Transit Authority and Union Pacific were ordered to sound their horns through all grade crossings from Ogden to Provo in early October as part of a safety measure by the Federal Railroad Administration. The order came as many crossings did not meet the FRA quiet zone safety standards.
Utah is home to the ‘Best Ski Resort’ in US and Canada, says report
In an update to the quiet zones, Lehi City confirmed the FRA had made inspections of the corrections made to railroad crossings, and all but one crossing on the Wasatch Front had passed the inspection.
Lehi City said in order for the Quiet Zone to be reinstated, all of the railroad crossings within the zone must be inspected and meet FRA safety standards.
It was the public crossing at 1700 South in Salt Lake City that failed to meet the FRA’s safety requirements. According to Lehi City officials, the FRA requires adjustments to be made at a commercial driveway in order to help the crossing meet gate arm standards. Salt Lake City is reportedly waiting for the property owners of the driveway to select one of four proposed options to fix the issue.
While the repairs continue at the 1700 South crossing, trains will still be required to sound their horns for a minimum of 15 seconds and a maximum of 20 seconds ahead of any public crossing.