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The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently approved the Tri-County Metropolitan Transit District of Oregon’s (TriMet) request to waive certain regulatory requirements pertaining to sounding horns on WES commuter-rail trains at several grade crossings. Between Farmington Road and the Beaverton Transit Center, WES trains will sound a bell at each crossing instead of a horn.   

The FRA determined the request was consistent with railroad safety guidelines and in the public interest, according to TriMet. The waiver is temporary and can be revoked for safety reasons, and an operator still can sound the horn at any time.

TriMet also plans to establish a quiet zone in Tualatin so WES and freight trains no longer need to sound horns at crossings. The project calls for upgrading three crossings from two-quadrant to four-quadrant gates and installing a concrete median barrier to prevent vehicles from driving around crossing gates. In addition, TriMet plans to install wayside horns at four crossings to issue audible warnings to motorists and pedestrians.

Construction is scheduled to begin in July and conclude at year’s end. The project’s $3 million cost will be covered by federal stimulus dollars, and monies from TriMet and other local and government agencies.