TUPELO, Miss. (AP) - Tupelo officials have long talked about a possible “quiet zone” - an agreement by railroad companies that trains won’t blow horns or whistles except in emergencies.
Tupelo Mayor Jason Shelton tells the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal (https://bit.ly/2idbfqc ) that the idea remains a priority, but can’t be fully implemented anytime soon.
The newspaper reports that federal regulations dictate when and for how long trains must sound a warning blast upon approaching a crossing with a road. However, with certain features installed, including crossing arms, those regulations can be waived.
Shane Hooper, Tupelo’s director of development services, estimates the necessary upgrades could cost an average of $250,000 per railroad crossing. Hooper said about 20 crossings in Tupelo would need to be upgraded, putting the total bill at around $5.5 million.
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Information from: Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, https://djournal.com
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