WEST MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - Homeowners near the West Monroe railroad track may be able to sleep a little easier at night. The loud freight train horns won't be sounding off anymore starting in August.
"We were able to do it with the people we have on staff with the city. That saved us substantially," Special Projects Leader Denise Calhoun said.
Calhoun believes the city even saved taxpayer dollars with this project. Instead of using outside help, a small group is putting the finishing touches on the quiet zone.
"Before we ever applied for the quiet zone, we began by closing several of the crossings," Calhoun said.
The process of setting up these quiet zones started back about two years ago, when Kansas City Southern and the City of West Monroe closed of the railroad crossings at south 2nd Street and Plum Street.
"It feels really good," Mayor Dave Norris said. "It has been a lot of work in order to do that. A lot of paperwork had to be done some engineering had to be done."
The engineers play a key role in railroad safety. These gates are all new at the other two crossings. Their next step, to put up signs similar to this one, warning everyone about the lack of a train horn. And that goes for those on foot as well.
"You need to follow the exact same rules as a vehicle or a bicycle would, you don't go around the gates, you don't cross when it's not safe," Calhoun said.
There are 22 trains that pass through the area in a single day.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 8:27 AM EDT2013-05-22 12:27:30 GMT
BATON ROUGE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - Police say a 27-year-old Baton Rouge man accused of punching a man during a bar fight who later died of his injuries has surrendered to authorities.
BATON ROUGE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - Police say a 27-year-old Baton Rouge man accused of punching a man during a bar fight who later died of his injuries has surrendered to authorities.
Tuesday, May 7 2013 7:51 PM EDT2013-05-07 23:51:36 GMT
BASTROP, La. (KNOE 8 News) - Walking the stage to get your diploma signals the end of a journey. Our Nolan Crane shows us one high school senior whose walking is just the beginning.
BASTROP, La. (KNOE 8 News) - Walking the stage to get your diploma signals the end of a journey. Our Nolan Crane shows us one high school senior whose walking is just the beginning.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:06 AM EDT2013-05-21 14:06:05 GMT
MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - School closures, cuts to services, and employee reductions will be actions facing new Monroe superintendent-elect Brent Vidrine.
MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - School closures, cuts to services, and employee reductions will be actions facing new Monroe superintendent-elect Brent Vidrine.
Friday, May 17 2013 12:09 PM EDT2013-05-17 16:09:18 GMT
FARMERVILLE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - The family of a Farmerville teen who died at football practice last week says it is overwhelmed by the community's gratitude.
FARMERVILLE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - The family of a Farmerville teen who died at football practice last week says it is overwhelmed by the community's gratitude.
