TRAIN HORN FINAL RULE DELAYED vs

THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE PROPOSED RULE ALLOWING FOR TRAIN HORN "QUIET ZONES" WAS MOVED TO APRIL 1. THE INTERIM FINAL RULE ON USE OF LOCOMOTIVE HORNS AT HIGHWAY-RAIL GRADE CROSSINGS WAS ISSUED LATE LAST YEAR. IT REQUIRES TRAINS TO SOUND THEIR HORNS ON APPROACH TO, (AND WHILE TRAVELING ACROSS), PUBLIC HIGHWAY-RAIL CROSSINGS. HOWEVER, THE TRAIN HORN CAN BE SILENCED WITHIN A 'QUIET ZONE' PROVIDED SAFETY MEASURES ARE IN PLACE AT THE AFFECTED CROSSINGS. THE FEDERAL RAILWAY ADMINISTRATION PLANNED TO ISSUE THE FINAL RULE LAST MONTH, BUT BECAUSE THE RULE GENERATED SIGNIFICANT INTEREST FROM COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, EXTENDED THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD BY TWO MONTHS.