Boca Raton quiet zones begin on Brightline route

Quiet zones went into effect last week along the Florida East Coast rail corridor where the new Brightline passenger train operates in Boca Raton, Florida.

Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer held a press conference May 30 to announce the quiet zone implementation and supplemental safety measures, which included four quadrant gates and additional signage. The safety measures were funded by the Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency and constructed by Brightline.

All 10 railroad crossings in Boca Raton are a part of the quiet zone, and the "no train horn" areas apply to freight and Brightline trains. Train horns may still be used in emergency situations or to comply with federal regulations or operating rules, city officials said in a press release.

The mayor was joined at the event by representatives of Brightline, local governments and police and fire departments.

Brightline, Singer and others used the occasion to remind local residents, pedestrians and drivers to adhere to safety precautions near the trains and tracks. Pedestrians and bicyclists were reminded to remove headphones or earbuds when crossing the tracks.

The safety warnings followed incidents in which several pedestrians have been killed by Brightline trains since the rail service began testing and then operating trains. In the latest incident, a pedestrian was struck and killed by a Brightline train in Boynton Beach on June 1.

Brightline has developed a rail safety campaign that may be found here.