Politics & Government

Train Hushing Efforts on Track Despite Objection

San Clemente city official say they hope to have the equipment installed by September that will allow trains to safely quiet their horns through San Clemente.

San Clemente city officials say the multi-million-dollar effort to hush train whistles through town is on track despite objections from one railway company.

A quiet zone at two road-rail intersections at North Beach has already been established, and the latest effort to silence the whistles at seven other pedestrian intersections are expected to pass by September, according to a city report. City officials plan to give an update on the project at Tuesday's city council meeting.

The project costs $4.2 million, which includes improved crossing infrastructure and an audible warning system necessary to make it safe enough that train engineers won't have to routinely sound their whistles as they approach pedestrian crossings.

Find out what's happening in San Clementewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

BNSF Railway has filed a challenge to the plan with the California Public Utilities Commission, but the Orange County Transportation Authority has charged ahead with funding and designs for the project. City staffers say they expect the commission to rule in favor of the pedestrian quiet zone project.

According to the latest plans, construction will start June and be finished by September.

Find out what's happening in San Clementewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The San Clemente City Council meets 6 p.m. Tuesday at the San Clemente Civic Center, 100 Ave. Presidio.

Click here for today’s top stories from San Clemente.

Stay Patched in! Like San Clemente Patch on Facebook. | Sign up for the daily email with links to the latest news.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here