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1. What is a Quiet Zone?

A Quiet Zone is a section of a rail line that contains one or more consecutive public highway-rail at-grade crossings at which locomotive horns are not routinely sounded. A quiet zone does not preclude the sounding of locomotive horns in emergency situations, nor does it impose a legal duty to sound the horn in such situations. Nothing in the Final Rule restricts the use of locomotive horns during malfunctions, maintenance or testing.

2. Why Do Trains Sound Their Horns?

In response to an increase in train/automobile collisions, in 1994 Congress enacted a law that required the FRA to issue a Federal Regulation requiring the consistent sounding of locomotive horns at public highway-rail grade crossings. It also gave the FRA the ability to provide for exceptions through which communities may establish “quiet zones”.

The Train Horn Rule became effective in June 2005. The rule set nationwide standards for the sounding of locomotive train horns at public highway-rail grade crossings. The FRA has very specific requirements as to when, where, how long, and how loud a train must sound its horn. According to FRA rules, train horns must:

• Be between 96 and 110 decibels
• Sound at least 15 seconds but no more than 20 seconds before reaching a crossing
• Sound no more than ¼ of a mile in advance of a crossing if the train is traveling faster than 60 mph

3. Who is Responsible for Establishing a Quiet Zone?

Per the FRA Rule, a Quiet Zone may be established by the Public Authority responsible for traffic control or law enforcement at the public highway-rail grade crossing. The Town of Atherton is the Public Authority for the Fair Oaks Lane and Watkins Avenue rail grade crossings.

4. When was the Atherton Fair Oaks Quiet Zone Established?

12:01 AM, June 13, 2016

5. Is the Atherton Caltrain Station Part of the Quiet Zone?

No. The Final Rule regulates locomotive train horns at public highway-rail grade crossings. Commuter rail stations and associated audible warnings are regulated by the operating rules of the passenger rail agency, in this instance, Caltrain. Caltrain should be contacted to obtain information regarding their operating rules related to audible warnings for stations. Visit the Caltrain Website

6. Is the Sounding of Train Horns Now Prohibited Through the Town of Atherton?

No. Trains are still required to sound locomotive horns in accordance with the Final Rule as they approach the Watkins Avenue public highway-rail grade crossing.

7. Are Quiet Zones Safe?

Each crossing within a Quiet Zone must be equipped with active grade crossing warning devices and meet other criteria in accordance with the Final Rule in order to be eligible for Quiet Zone establishment. The safety equipment provided at the Fair Oaks Lane highway-rail grade crossing is the installation of a 4 quadrant gate system which provides a physical barrier to prohibit cars from entering the railroad corridor in the event of an approaching train. The 4 quadrant gate system is an approved FRA Supplemental Safety Measure which provides additional warning to minimize the risk of vehicle/train collisions.

8. Did the Town Assume Any Potential Liability by Establishing the Atherton Fair Oaks Quiet Zone?

The absence of routine locomotive train horn sounding increases the risk of a crossing collision, but the FRA required Supplemental Safety Measure (4 quadrant gate system) is intended to mitigate any increased risk. In the event of a collision, liability would be determined by a court on a case-by-case basis, but the idea is that installation of the Supplemental Safety Measure makes the crossing at least as safe, if not safer, than it was prior to establishment of the quiet zone. As a result, establishment of a quiet zone should not result in additional liability for the Town.

9. Can the Town Create a Quiet Zone at the Watkins Railroad Crossing?

Not at this time. The Watkins highway-rail grade crossing currently does not have the required Supplemental Safety Measure to make this crossing Quiet Zone eligible. The Town of Atherton has funded an engineering study to determine the feasibility and cost to construct a 4-quadrant gate system at the Watkins Avenue crossing. Once completed, funding and construction will need to be coordinated with and through Caltrain.

10. How Can I Report Violations of the Quiet Zone?

Quiet Zone violations can be reported to the FRA using the following online form:
Report Violation

11. Where Can I Learn More About How Quiet Zones are Established?

The FRA Guide to Quiet Zone Establishment can be found at:

FRA Quiet Zone Establishment Information

Additional information can be found at:
The Train Horn Rule and Quiet Zones