(CSX issued the following news release on January 27.)
EVERGREEN PARK, Ill. — Effective today, CSX Transportation (CSXT), the rail unit of CSX Corporation, has issued an operational bulletin instructing train crews to discontinue regular train horn use from 99th Street in Chicago to 87th Street in Evergreen Park. Crews will continue to sound horns in the presence of maintenance workers and if emergency conditions exist.
This announcement comes following the completion of construction and pre- operational safety monitoring of the final three railroad crossings of the Chicago area CSX Quiet Zone. As part of establishing this quiet zone, new median barriers were installed at 95th Street and 87th Street and four- quadrant gates were installed at 91st Street in Evergreen Park. In addition, one private crossing was closed and one relocated to accommodate safety regulations.
In September 2004, CSXT began operating under quiet zone conditions from Chicago’s 123rd Street to 103rd Street. The total quiet zone extends for approximately four miles over 14 crossings, through parts of Blue Island, Chicago, and Evergreen Park. The project was funded through a $3 million grant from the Illinois Commerce Commission, sponsored by Illinois State Representative Kevin Joyce.
CSX Corporation, based in Jacksonville, Fla., owns the largest rail network in the eastern United States. CSX Transportation Inc. and its 32,000 employees provide rail transportation services over a 21,000 route-mile network in 23 states, the District of Columbia and two Canadian provinces. CSX Corporation also provides intermodal and global container terminal operations through other subsidiaries.