A quiet zone for the city of Ranier has been approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration, following efforts from U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, and Rep. Rick Nolan.

The lawmakers supported Ranier’s application for a quiet zone request with the FRA.

“This new quiet zone will benefit all of Ranier, making it a more inviting place to live and do business. I was glad to work with Sen. Franken and Congressman Nolan to push the Federal Railroad Administration to approve this application,” said Klobuchar.

“This is good news for families and businesses in Ranier, where trains cut through one of the city’s major streets multiple times each day and blow their horns,” said Franken. “We pushed hard to get this designation approved by the Federal Railroad Administration because the noise has affected the entire community and something needed to be done.

“After contacting the Federal Railroad Administration directly to expedite this process and urge an affirmative decision, I am pleased that our work led to the successful approval of this application,” said Nolan. “The new quiet zone is wonderful news for Ranier residents.” 

Localities nationwide can mitigate the effects of train horn noise by establishing new quiet zones. In a quiet zone, railroads have been directed to cease the routine sounding of their horns when approaching public highway-rail grade crossings. Train horns may still be used in emergency situations or to comply with other federal regulations or railroad operating rules. Localities desiring to establish a quiet zone are first required to mitigate the increased risk caused by the absence of a horn.