ST. LOUIS — Federal Railroad Administration inspections of city railroad-crossing upgrades are scheduled to begin Wednesday, Oct. 21, as St. Louis seeks to restore suspended quiet zones.
The city says inspections are expected to continue through the end of October. The review follows work involving warning signs, pavement markings and required documentation at 187 crossings identified by federal officials.
The FRA formally suspended all St. Louis quiet zones Sept. 10, and railroads were directed to resume routine horn sounding at affected crossings. City crews began compliance work Sept. 16. The city reported that new 36-inch advance-warning signs arrived Oct. 9 and described their installation as the last major physical repair.
Quiet-zone restoration is expected to happen corridor by corridor, not necessarily across the entire city at once. According to the city’s update, the FRA agreed to reinstate each zone after repairs and documentation for that corridor are approved. Areas with higher residential density were prioritized.
The start of inspection does not by itself mean train horns will immediately stop. Federal approval remains necessary for each corridor, and routine horn use can continue while reviews are underway.
The city maintains an online map showing the compliance status of known at-grade crossings. Residents can also contact the Department of Streets through the information listed on the official update page.
Source: City of St. Louis Railroad Crossings Quiet Zone Compliance update.
