CONGERS, NY – At a Congers press conference today, Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) and local officials applauded the decision by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) that could silence deafening train whistles in Rockland County.  This weekend, the FRA released a final rule that to Rockland to establish “quiet zones” designed to ease the sounding of train whistles and horns at night.

“For far too long, Rocklanders have endured the irritating sounds that come with local train traffic.  FRA has heard our call, and this ruling will help Rockland County put the brakes on deafening train whistles,” said Lowey. 

The Final Train Horn Rule becomes effective on June 24, 2005, and will pre-empt state laws and related railroad operating rules which currently require locomotive horns be sounded.  Railroad crossings in the new quiet zones will be required at minimum to be equipped with flashing lights and gates.  Additional safety measures may be required to compensate for the absence of the horn as a warning device.

Lowey had written U.S. DOT Secretary Norman Mineta urging the passage of this rule to allow state and local governments to upgrade safety at rail crossings so that trains do not have to sound their whistles to warn pedestrians and motorists, especially during times of day when they are most disturbing to surrounding communities.  The quiet zone proposed for the West Shore Line could be established in Rockland County from the New Jersey border through Orangetown, Clarkstown, and Haverstraw, terminating in Tomkins Cove in the Town of Stony Point.

At today’s press conference, Lowey also announced House passage of legislation that would provide $4.75 million for Rockland County to install safety and noise-reduction upgrades for fourteen railroad crossings along the West Shore Line.  The funding was included by Congresswoman Lowey, Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY17) and Congresswoman Sue Kelly (R-NY19) in the Transportation Equity Act – A Legacy for Users (TEA-LU), which is now being considered by the Senate.

"Rockland County's Railroad Crossing Safety Improvement and Quiet Zone project is a top priority for us," said Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef.  "We have been working very hard to be out ahead on this effort, and are pleased to be moving forward with the project's engineering and design phase.  We thank Congresswoman Lowey and her colleagues, Congressman Engel and Congresswoman Kelly, for their efforts to secure funding through the Transportation Bill for this and other important transportation projects in Rockland County." 

“After years of work by local officials and community leaders, this rule will finally provide relief for our local residents,” said Lowey.  “I’m going to continue to work with Congressman Engel and Congresswoman Kelly to push the federal government to do its fair share to help restore some peace and quiet to the communities surrounding the railroad tracks.  Quiet zones will truly improve the quality of life of Rockland residents.”