Frequently Asked Questions

RAILROAD QUIET ZONE - FAQs

Why are there train horns being used in the North Salt Lake area?

Federal law states that train horns must be used whenever trains approach an at-grade crossing with a street or pedestrian walkway. The exception to this law is to establish a railroad quiet zone which is allowed if all at-grade crossings comply with federal laws regarding crossing arms, flashing lights, gates and other safety features which alert and stop cars and pedestrians from entering a railroad corridor when a train is present.

What is the status of the quiet zone that covers the North Salt Lake area?

Since 2008, North Salt Lake has been within a quiet zone that extended from Ogden to Salt Lake City. Because the crossings located within this large area complied with the safety requirements in place in 2008, a quiet zone was established and trains could pass through this area without using their horns.  There are over 80 at-grade crossings in this quiet zone. In the years since 2008, several federal requirements and standards were amended making many crossings within the corridor out of compliance with required safety features. Due to the many instances of non-compliance, on Monday, September 30, this quiet zone and the quiet zone that runs from Salt Lake County to Provo were suspended by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). 

What is being done to reinstate the quiet zone?

There are several locations within the quiet zone that have been identified by the FRA as needing repairs and upgrades. Most of those upgrades are improved signage and other minor improvements to crossings. In some locations, more extensive repairs and upgrades are required. There are locations throughout the corridor where concrete medians are being enlarged and at least two locations, one in Salt Lake City and the other in the City of North Salt Lake where new flashing crossing arm gates are required. Once improvements are made to all areas where deficiencies exist, then the FRA will reinspect those crossings and make a determination of compliance. If all crossings are in compliance, then the quiet zone will be reinstated.

The City of Woods Cross is the designated agency that represents all communities within the quiet zone. They are not the party responsible for any improvements outside of their city, but have coordinated the repairs and the response to the FRA in an effort to reinstate the quiet zone. 

North Salt Lake’s crossing on Main Street

North Salt Lake has an at-grade rail crossing at approximately 750 North Main Street that is currently non-compliant with FRA safety regulations. This non-compliance is due to three signal arms that must be upgraded and re-located to new locations at this crossing. The City has this work identified as part of the reconstruction of this portion of Main Street which is scheduled to begin in 2025. The repairs to the rail crossing cannot be completed by the City or any of the City’s contractors; rather, it can only be performed by Union Pacific Railroad who must approve of design, permit the construction and then do the work with its own contractors or employees. 

The City hired a contractor to prepare the design plans for these safety upgrades and submitting these plans to Union Pacific. The City also requested that Union Pacific review, permit and construct these improvements in an expedited manner, though the expected duration from the time plans are submitted until the work is complete is eighteen (18) months. 

The City submitted a waiver to the FRA (jointly with Salt Lake City) so that the quiet zone could be reinstated while the permitting and construction for this crossing is underway. The FRA has not ruled on the waiver yet, but will be making a determination in the next 3-4 months. 

Other non-compliant locations

There are several other locations of non-compliance that must also be addressed before the quiet zone can be reinstated, including a location in Salt Lake City which is identical to the North Salt Lake crossing. Many of these crossing will require minor work that can be done quickly, but the Salt Lake and North Salt Lake locations will require permitting and construction by Union Pacific Railroad. 

When will quiet zone be reinstated? 

According to representatives of the FRA, the quiet zone will be only be reinstated when all crossings are in compliance with federal rules. There is no timeline for reinstatement and at least the two crossings in Salt Lake and North Salt Lake could take up to eighteen (18) months to complete. 

Who can I talk to about these issues if I have additional questions?

The City’s representatives on this matter include the following:

Where can I find additional information on train safety, quiet zones, and the Federal Railroad Administration?

The official website can be found at https://railroads.dot.gov/. Under the heading “Railroad Safety” you will find a link for Train Horn Rules and Quiet Zones

SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENTS TO THE FRA (Comment period open until March 17, 2025)