FOSTORIA, Ohio - Homeowners have long complained about the barrage of whistles from the nearly 200 trains that rumble through town just about everyday, the Associated Press reports.
It adds up to 5,400 piercing whistles a day.
"It's horrible," said Shirley Childers, who lives near a rail line. "They just lay on their horns."
City leaders have been studying how to ban the whistles but they have found that it might cost too much to add safety devices at its crossings, required to create quiet zones.
The safety improvements could cost from $450,000 to $850,000, according to estimates provided to the city.
"It's not a done issue," Mayor John Davoli said. "Although the cost is very high, we're not going to give up on it."
He has been lobbying for about five years for help in creating quiet zones in the northwest Ohio city of 14,000 people, where three main rail lines converge.
Two City Council members, though, said Tuesday it's doubtful the idea will move forward in the foreseeable future because the city doesn't have the money.
Noisy trains have become such a common complaint that the Federal Railroad Administration now allows cities to ban whistles as long as they add or improve safety devices at crossings.
Safety improvements can include constructing longer gates, and barriers that stop cars from zigzagging around crossing gates such as installing permanent pylons with reflectors near the crossings.
Another option is putting up automated horns that direct a recorded warning at traffic and not at surrounding homes.
One problem for cities is that little money is available to help pay for the changes, Davoli said.
Communities in at least 24 states, mainly in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana and Virginia, have banned train whistles.
The federal agency says complaints have grown because rail traffic has increased and towns are expanding toward once-remote railroad tracks.
Neighbors of busy rail crossings say the noise lowers their property values, forces some people to move and increases stress and sleeplessness.
Joyce Kidd, who lives next to a busy track in Fostoria, said the whistles have become unbearable, adding she never would have bought her house if she knew it would get so noisy.
It adds up to 5,400 piercing whistles a day.
"It's horrible," said Shirley Childers, who lives near a rail line. "They just lay on their horns."
City leaders have been studying how to ban the whistles but they have found that it might cost too much to add safety devices at its crossings, required to create quiet zones.
The safety improvements could cost from $450,000 to $850,000, according to estimates provided to the city.
"It's not a done issue," Mayor John Davoli said. "Although the cost is very high, we're not going to give up on it."
He has been lobbying for about five years for help in creating quiet zones in the northwest Ohio city of 14,000 people, where three main rail lines converge.
Two City Council members, though, said Tuesday it's doubtful the idea will move forward in the foreseeable future because the city doesn't have the money.
Noisy trains have become such a common complaint that the Federal Railroad Administration now allows cities to ban whistles as long as they add or improve safety devices at crossings.
Safety improvements can include constructing longer gates, and barriers that stop cars from zigzagging around crossing gates such as installing permanent pylons with reflectors near the crossings.
Another option is putting up automated horns that direct a recorded warning at traffic and not at surrounding homes.
One problem for cities is that little money is available to help pay for the changes, Davoli said.
Communities in at least 24 states, mainly in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana and Virginia, have banned train whistles.
The federal agency says complaints have grown because rail traffic has increased and towns are expanding toward once-remote railroad tracks.
Neighbors of busy rail crossings say the noise lowers their property values, forces some people to move and increases stress and sleeplessness.
Joyce Kidd, who lives next to a busy track in Fostoria, said the whistles have become unbearable, adding she never would have bought her house if she knew it would get so noisy.
I know I'm getting old... My insurance company sent me only half a calendar this year!
