The Quiet Zone application concerns Eureka Street (76086) train crossing.The actual crossing is not accessible to the public and are for employees of the City of Weatherford for accessibility to the water treatment plant. The public portion of Eureka Street terminates approximately 200 feet before the crossing. To be clear No Private Vehicles are allowed within 100 feet of the track and are blocked from gaining access to the crossing by a traffic control gate installed and managed by the City of Weatherford. The train horn affects multiple neighborhoods and hundreds of residents that have homes located in the general vicinity. The Walking Trails are located parallel with the tracks and are at the edge of the railroad’s easement so our citizens and their families are being subjected to decibel levels that are exceeding unhealthy. The noise levels are so high that it disrupts day to day life and overall tends to affect the health and well-being of people residing in this area.

According to the U.S Federal Railroad Administration, train horns must sound at least 15 seconds ahead of all public crossings and can be very loud, describing that sound levels are usually between 96-110 decibels. This intense noise pollution triggers stress responses leading to changes in the body's homeostasis, posing an increased risk of health issues like cardiovascular disease (Source: World Health Organization). Railway noise has also been linked to sleep disturbance and cognitive impairment in children (Source: Environmental Health Perspectives Journal).

We propose to establish a Quiet Zone at this railroad crossing. A Quiet Zone is a section of a rail line at least one-half mile in length that contains one or more consecutive public highway-rail grade crossings, at which locomotive horns are not routinely sounded. This does not eliminate the use of horns for emergency situations, keeping the safety measures intact. This solution, used in places around the country, has been known to significantly reduce noise pollution and improve the quality of life for residents (Source: U.S. Federal Railroad Administration).

Let's combat this issue at its root to create a livable environment. I urge you to sign this petition to establish a Quiet Zone at our local Railroad Crossing.