Train Horns Disrupting Peace in Wedgewood-Houston

(First, please excuss the typo found in the newsletter tittle)

Our Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood of has seen a residential boom in recent years, with new apartment complexes and condominiums popping up left and right. However, this newly thriving urban area sits alongside an active rail corridor operated by CSX Transportation, leading to an ongoing clash between residents seeking peace and quiet, and the loud blasts of train horns required by federal regulations.

For folks living near the rail line, the incessant train horn noise is more than just a nuisance - it's a rude awakening in the middle of the night and a constant disruption to their daily lives. Sarah Thompson, a 5-year Wedgewood-Houston resident, laments, "The train horns are incredibly loud and unbearable when you're trying to sleep. Some nights it can feel like a passing train is blowing its horn right outside your bedroom window."

While long-established communities near rail lines often work to establish "quiet zones" that allow trains to cease routine horn sounding, the process requires overhauling each crossing with enhanced safety measures and securing approval from federal authorities - a costly endeavor.

Good news! Wedgewood Houston Social is thrilled to announce the quiet zone for Wedgewood-Houston has now been approved, which will spare residents from the incessant locomotive noise pollution that has become untenable for many. Community leader Chad DiDonato notes the turnaround, stating, "The onslaught of train horn noise was never an issue when this was more of an industrial area. But now that it's transitioned into a thriving urban neighborhood, we've got to find a resolution that allows folks to get a good night's sleep."

The battle isn't over yet though, as residents now hope to prevent the occasional idled train from blocking major intersections like Chestnut and 8th Ave. Negotiations are ongoing as the community seeks a compromise with the railroad over civic priorities of livability and quality of life versus operational needs.

For Wedgewood-Houston's residents, the newly-approved quiet zone marks a big win in their quest to make the neighborhood a little more quiet and peaceful. As development continues to accelerate, finding harmony between bull urban growth and long-established rail infrastructure will be key.

Special thanks to our developer friends for helping make this a reality!