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Railroad Agrees to Quiet Zones Near Mobile Hotels

By Garry Mitchell, Associated Press

Mobile, AL – Blaring train horns that have rousted sleeping hotel guests in downtown Mobile will fall silent Thursday under an agreement between the port city and railroad officials on a "quiet zone" a move that is becoming popular around the country.

Mobile Mayor Sam Jones said Wednesday the city spent about $200,000 to construct safety measures for the no-horn zones at six crossings, including the major crossing at the convention center across from two upscale hotels.

The crossings still warn motorists with flashing lights and cross bars, but now have increased signs and signals, among other safety measures.

Officials with the railroad company CSX Corp. said they cooperated with the city's move, handled through the Federal Railroad Administration, which sets conditions for the quiet zones. The horns now won't blow in the zones except in an emergency.

Ray Morley, an Ipswich businessman, said the train runs through the center of town. He said there are five railroad crossings within a quarter mile and train horns sounded three times at each crossing until the quiet zone agreement was reached Oct. 1.

"People were going crazy," he said in a phone interview.

Federal Railroad Administration spokesman Rob Kulat said quiet zones have become more popular, but some cities can't afford them. Some cities want to keep the horns out of safety concerns, he said, while others say the horns are nostalgic.

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