California State Rail Plan 2005-06 to 2015-16

Chapter XVIII – Environmental Review
FEDERAL RULING ON SOUNDING LOCOMOTIVE HORNS
The sounding of locomotive horns for advance warning at public highway-rail
crossings has been a standard practice for over a hundred years. To abate the
impact of noise from operations and locomotive horn use, local communities have
adopted speed limits and prohibitions on horn use. Whistle bans are currently
controlled by California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) rules under California
Law. Communities within three counties in California (Los Angeles, Orange, and
Sacramento) have passed such bans at 64 at-grade crossings.
A 1995 FRA study “Nationwide Study of Train Whistle Bans” found an
85 percent increase in the collision rate during ban hours. In 1994, Congress
passed “The Swift Rail Development Act” requiring the sounding of horns upon
approach of every public grade crossing. The Act and subsequent legislation
allow exceptions. In response to legislation, FRA has issued a Final Rule on the
Use of Locomotive Horns at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings. This final rule,
which requires that locomotive horns be sounded as a warning to highway users at
public highway-rail crossings, took effect June 24, 2005.
Specifics of the plan include:
• Horn level set at either 104 dB or 111 dB.
• Length of time a horn is sounded would be limited.
• Localities or states would be allowed to establish approved “quiet zones”
that allow trains to operate through such zones without sounding horns.
The rules require FRA to approve each such quiet zone based on provision
of appropriate safety measures.
NOISE STANDARDS
The US Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) 27 standards for noise
emission of Interstate Rail Carriers are dependent on equipment and operational
conditions. Generally, the EPA sets at a distance of 30 meters, or 100 feet,
an 87 dBA standard at any throttle setting except at idle. The idle standard is
70 dBA. Noise standards for rail cars moving at 45 miles per hour or less are set
at 88 dBA and for movement over 45 mph are set at 93 dBA. The FRA is
empowered to force a railroad to correct the noise defect or remove the equipment
from service. 28
MITIGATION OF NOISE IMPACTS
Receptors can be shielded from the noise of a passing train by a number of tools
including noise barriers and sound attenuators. Noise barriers do not generally
mitigate aerodynamic noise because of the height of the sources. Noise mitigation
27 40 CFR 201 – Noise Emission Standards For Transportation Equipment; Interstate Rail Carrier
28 49 CRF 210 – Railroad Noise Emission Compliance Regulations
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