Texas A&M Transportation looking to relief noise going on at railroad crossings

A&M is in the process of putting in technology to substitute for the train horn from the railroad intersections of George Bush Dr. to F&B Rd. on Wellborn Rd.

KAGS

By Tristan Lewis

Published: February 5, 2020

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — For those who have a class or live by the railroad on Wellborn Rd. (F.M. 2154), you're most likely familiar with the noise from the trains passing through every day.

"It's loud," said Collin Schmidt, a Texas A&M University student. "It comes by often."

"It kind of shook my apartment every time it drove by, I can still hear it even though I live on Northgate now," said Caroline Billings, another A&M student.

However, the blaring horn noises coming from the trains at certain intersections on campus could soon be a thing of the past.

"The university is looking to establish a quiet zone throughout campus," said Peter Lange, the associate vice president of Texas A&M Transportation Services.

A&M is in the process of putting in technology to substitute for the train horn from the railroad intersections of George Bush Dr. to F&B Rd. on Wellborn Rd.

"The community is moving in this direction, and we think it's a community issue on campus as well," said Lange. "Not having that train horn blow as it moves through campus will really help the quality of life."

What would be going in are wayside horns. Wayside horns are stationary horns at the railroad crossings that blow at the direction of oncoming traffic.

"Rather than the big cone of sound as the train goes north and south, you have this very intense and focused sound at the vehicles. It still has the same safety aspects of the train sound, but it is just focused," Lange said.

Transportation Services are seeking approval from the Texas A&M Board of Regents to add the project to the capital plan.

"It's being added as a $5 million project for all four of the intersections," Lange said.

Students at A&M said this measure will certainly help with day to day life.

"I think that it would be great," said Billings. "I know a lot of people who are studying around that area can get distracted by (the train horn.) I think it will be a really good thing to put in place."

"It's not going to be honking?" said Schmidt. "Okay good. I'm happy about that."

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