Hello Aston, Middletown, Lenni, and Chester Heights community.  We are proud Aston residents who live off of Lenni Road, roughly a half mile from the new Lenni train crossing.  If you are like us, we were very excited about the SEPTA railroad expansion and the opening of the new Wawa train station in our local community in August 2022.  We knew it would bring more job opportunities, as well as offer better and more environmentally-friendly commuting options. However, within the first week of the Wawa train station opening, our excitement quickly turned into extreme frustration with the disruptive and incessant train horns that invaded our previously quiet and peaceful community.

Living a half mile from the crossing, we were expecting to hear new train horns, but we never imagined that they would be sounding at all hours of the day and night as they are currently doing.  We are hearing train horns multiple times a night at 11 pm, midnight, 1 am, 3 am, 4 am, 5 am and so on.  Disruptive and loud noises made during these hours are in direct violation of all 3 townships local noise ordinances.  

Federal law dictates that train horns operate at a minimum of 96 decibels (and can go up to 110 decibels) before crossing a street. Constant sounds at this level are a complete disruption to any community and can travel much further than intended since our area is so full of hills where the train horns amplify and echo.  The current SEPTA Wawa Line has 42 trains that run from 4:43 AM to 12: 43 AM each day.  This is not including all the sound activity coming from the newly constructed Lenni train yard at all hours of the night. 

Safety always should be the first priority, but the Lenni Rd. train crossing already provides the following safety measures since it is an at-grade crossing:

- multiple railroad crossing signs

- two arms that descend to physically block cars from entering the crossing

-flashing lights

-loud alarm bells that sound when a train is approaching

Having train horns sound during township quiet hours when that many safety measures are already in place is completely unreasonable, especially since Lenni Road likely has very few, if any, cars crossing at those late night hours. 

There are several different solutions to remedy this problem.  One solution is that a township can implement a quiet zone which restricts or limits the hours that train horns sound in a particular area. This has recently been successfully accomplished for the SEPTA Line that runs through Lower Makefield Township in Bucks County.  Middletown will have to take the lead on this process as the Lenni Rd. crossing exists in their township.  Since it is greatly affecting many other nearby neighbors like us in Aston, and those in Chester Heights, we will have to show our support for a quiet zone and work together for a resolution. 

Ways to Get Involved:

Please sign and share this petition to support our efforts for Middletown to rectify the problem and implement a quiet zone at the Lenni Road crossing.  Also, please share your concerns directly with Middletown Township.  You can do so quickly and easily by completing this online form:

https://middletowndelcopa.gov/index.asp?SEC={07028467-AB5E-438E-A9DD-C4035CB1A4BC}&Type=QUICKFORM

Or you can reach out to a Middletown Council Member directly using their contact information found here:

https://middletowndelcopa.gov/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={45B94FEB-BAC0-4BE9-946B-CB24FB144AFC}

Every person has a right to the quiet enjoyment of their hard-earned property.  Train horns should not be constantly disturbing the peace in our community when there are other viable options to ensure the safety of drivers and those on the train.

Thank You!!!