Neighbors hounded by train horns

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Living along the Union Pacific railroad line in South Austin, people know the sound of train horns all too well. The noisy neighbor is something they have asked the city to silence for years.

In the fall of 2009, the city first told KXAN about its intention to follow through with a project to create quiet zones. Nearly three years later, there is finally progress, but trains likely will not stop blaring their horns anytime soon.

"We ask for (residents’) patience," said Gary Schatz, the city’s assistant director of transportation, City of Austin. “It's a long process.”

It is a waiting game for the city. Since Union Pacific owns the tracks, they set the schedule - one where caution is a priority.

The railroad’s web site says: "Union Pacific believes quiet zones compromise the safety of railroad employees, customers, and the general public."

"It's known that, if the train does not sound its horn at the crossing, the chance of a crash occurring increases 68 percent,” Schatz said.

Watch KXAN News at 6 on Thursday, as Josh Hinkle investigates the balance between silence and safety and find out when these quiet zones will be in place.