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In response to a legislative mandate, 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 on June 24, 2005. The final rule provides an opportunity, not available until now, for thousands of localities nationwide to mitigate the effects of train horn noise by establishing new "quiet zones." The rule also details actions communities with pre-existing "whistle bans" can take to preserve the quiet they have become accustomed to.

Use of Locomotive Horns at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings; Technical Amendments to Appendix D
Train Horn Final Rule as amended on August 17, 2006
(NEW 2008 ) Notice of Adjustment of Significant Nationwide Risk Threshold
Summary of Major Changes to Final Rule
Record of Decision: Use of Locomotive Horns Final Rule
Final Environmental Impact Statement
Guidance on the Quiet Zone Creation Process
     Quiet Zone Calculator
     Flow Chart Explanatory Text
     Chart 1A -- Pre-Rule Quiet Zones and Pre-Rule Quiet Zones Qualifying for Automatic Approval
     Chart 1B: Pre-Rule Quiet Zones and Pre-Rule Partial Quiet Zones Not Qualified for Automatic Approval
     Chart 3: Creating a New Quiet Zone or New Partial Quiet Zone using SSMs
     Chart 4A: Creating a Quiet Zone using Modified SSMs
     Chart 4B: Creating a Quiet Zone using Engineering ASMs
     Chart 4C: Creating a Quiet Zone using Non-Engineering ASMs
     Notifications
Locations of Quiet Zones