WINTER PARK, Fla. – As of Wednesday, train engineers are no longer allowed to blow their horns in Winter Park.
The city is now marked as a quiet zone, meaning SunRail train horns cannot go off at railroad crossing intersections unless there’s danger or an emergency. Officials enacted the policy to decrease noise levels within the city.
“This has been in the works for multiple multiple years,” Winter Park Public Information Officer Clarissa Howard said. “The intent is truly a quiet zone as they travel through Winter Park.”
Quiet zones will be marked with a sign ahead of the intersection. Such areas may be equipped with supplemental safety measures, including more active warning devices, flashing lights and gates.
“The sounds are still coming when the gates come down but the train horn is no longer being blown,” Howard explained. “This definitely is a difference in sound quality for our city.”
SunRail safety officials remind residents that with the newly determined quiet zones, it is important to avoid all distractions when approaching railroad tracks.
Whether walking, driving or cycling, people must remember to not stop on the tracks, do not cross the white line unless there’s adequate space on the opposite side of the tracks, and make sure that any objects that protrude from one’s vehicle or person such as a bike rack or carrier can clear the tracks completely before crossing.
The quiet zone designation affects all trains passing through Winter Park, including SunRail, Amtrak and CSX freight.
Did you hear that? Neither did we! 👂🚅
— City of Winter Park (@WinterParkFla) January 29, 2020
Today, we've officially become a Quiet Zone corridor! Train engineers will not blow their horns as they approach the crossing intersections unless there's danger or an emergency. @RideSunRail
For more info access https://t.co/LyBlMGePlF pic.twitter.com/6o9ivZxoca
There are currently 16 quiet zone crossings in Winter Park:
North Dennings Drive
South Dennings Drive
North Pennsylvania Avenue
South Pennsylvania Avenue
West Webster Avenue
North New York Avenue
West Canton Avenue
West Morse Boulevard
West New England Avenue
West Lyman Avenue
South New York Avenue
Fairbanks Avenue
Holt Avenue
Minnesota Avenue
South Orlando Avenue (17-92)
Westchester Avenue
For more information on quiet zones, click here. To see a map of current and pending Sunrail quiet zones click or tap here.