Trains will no longer sound off as they travel through Dana Point. Photo by Andrea Papagianis
Dana Point Times
Train horns will go silent starting Thursday, as Dana Point joins eight other communities with quiet zones throughout Orange County.
With new railroad crossing safety enhancements completed, as part of an $85 million Orange County Transportation Authority program, trains will not longer sound their horns along the tracks at the Palisades Drive and Beach Road railroad crossing.
Train engineers are required by law to sound horns—at least four times—before approaching a public rail crossing. But with Dana Point’s newly established “quiet zone” designation from the Federal Railroad Administration, horns will only be required during emergency situations or if the train is traveling through a construction zone.
According to an OTCA press release, the program made safety improvements to 52 railroad crossings throughout the county, with 37 designated as quiet zones, in Anaheim, Irvine, Orange, San Clemente, Santa Ana, Tustin and now number 38 in Dana Point. Improvements included, updated warning devices, additional gate arms, extended and raised medians, improved signage and new traffic signals.