SPOKANE — Residents in Spokane Valley and Cheney are calling for horn-free zones to silence train whistles near their homes.
The Spokesman-Review reported that communities can create horn-free zones if they install extra safety measures at train crossings.
Communities have had multiple meetings about the growing number of trains hauling crude oil from North Dakota through Spokane on their way to Western Washington refineries. The meetings typically focus on the potential for spills, but some residents say they want noise included in the discussions.
Spokane Valley and Cheney residents have lobbied their elected officials to get quiet zones established in the past. But prior efforts failed because of cost. Gates to help ensure safety can cost as much as $500,000 per crossing. Spokane Valley has 38 rail crossings where trains blow their horns.
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