Railroad 'quiet zone' begins in downtown Oklahoma City

A new quiet zone is being established in downtown Oklahoma City, following approval by the Federal Railroad Administration.

The zone, which will allow trains to move through the area without sounding a horn at downtown intersections, was slated to take effect yesterday.

However, it could take 48 hours before railroad operators' automated systems are updated, Oklahoma City officials said in a press release. Those system updates should be completed by Friday.

Eleven intersections were approved to create the quiet zone, which will run about 3 miles between Southeast 23rd Street and Northeast 16th Street.

Within the zone, all railroad intersections with city streets have been rebuilt with additional safety and traffic control elements that allow the trains to pass through without sounding horns.

Typically, train operators sound the horn as they approach intersections as an advance audio warning to drivers and pedestrians. Improvements within the zones have made that unnecessary except in emergencies, such as a vehicle blocking the tracks.