EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — Train horns are sounding again through the Five Points area of Central El Paso after the neighborhood lost its quiet zone status last week, city leaders said.
A quiet zone is an area where the city has made certain improvements to meet federal standards so that train companies using the rail do not have to sound their horns while going through the area.
Last week, the city was informed by Union Pacific that it had received notice from the Federal Rail Administration that several quiet zones throughout the state had been suspended.
According to city officials, the Federal Rail Administration paused the quiet zone in Central El Paso after it identified a need for improvements in the area.
“We’re working closely with the Federal Rail Administration to see exactly what’s missing on the city’s end and what we need to catch up with. But we’re hopeful that we can get this resolved in short order,” said Joaquin Rodriguez, interim director of the city’s Capital Improvement Department.
Rodriguez said the city has a project manager assigned specifically to try and resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
However, speaking to KFOX14/CBS4 on Wednesday, some neighbors said they have already noticed the change.
“Wakes me up during the night, and during the day it’s just bad, it’s annoying. And it’s actually pretty, pretty loud. And even if we’re in the back, you could hear it full blast. And I have a house in the front, and I have renters, and I’m afraid they’re gonna move out,” said Ivan Teran of Central El Paso.
Another resident said, the sounds have been going on throughout the day and night.
“Its been going on from the night, basically from 2 in the morning till 6 in the morning when everybody starts waking up. And during the day it wasn’t really a bother it was a quiet zone, so basically everybody got used to that,” said Josue Favela.
The city of El Paso did not have a timeline for when the quiet zone may be restored.
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