Glencoe residents and businesses began getting relief from excessive train horn noise last month after an agreement among federal regulators, local officials and the Union Pacific Railroad.
Village Manager Phil Kiraly announced at a Village Board meeting last month that train horn usage — which had increased for several months — would be reduced. The updated policy took effect Jan. 23.
“We know how disruptive this has been to our community,” Kiraly said.
Glencoe has operated with federally recognized quiet train crossings for many years, allowing trains to sound their horns only under limited circumstances. However, village officials said horn blasts began occurring regularly at the village’s four railroad crossings between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. on a daily basis last year.
Kiraly said the increase stemmed from the required deployment of additional features in federally-mandated positive train control systems, along with confusion over how long-standing Glencoe quiet zone regulations should be applied.
After months of communication with multiple agencies, the village received confirmation that its quiet zones remained valid and must be honored, Kiraly noted.
“This is very important because this was the critical piece in the puzzle to get our friends at Union Pacific to update their systems and eliminate the use of those automated train horns,” he said.
Kiraly said delays in resolving the issue were partly tied to a prolonged federal shutdown last year.
The tracks are owned by Union Pacific Railroad.
Union Pacific spokeswoman Robynn Tysver confirmed the matter has been resolved and provided additional context on horn policy.
“Under federal guidelines, train crews are required to blow the horn for the protection of the public, such as during construction occurring near the tracks or when they see unsafe behavior, including a pedestrian too close to the rails,” she said.
Metra operates its trains on Union Pacific tracks and will comply with the quiet zone in Glencoe, spokesman Michael Gillis wrote in an e-mail.
