(La Porte, IN) - Freight trains blaring their horns could be a thing of the past in La Porte in the near future. Mayor Tom Dermody said a federal quiet zone designation for the city is not official yet, but it’s a done deal.

 

He based his opinion on feedback he recently received electronically from a branch of the federal government processing the city’s application for quiet zone designation. Dermody was informed to expect official approval within 60 to 90 days, which is the estimated period of time left for the process to wind its course.

 

He broke the news on the “Stump the Mayor” program this morning on 96 7 The Eagle.

 

“It’s a formality and we won’t hear horns,” Dermody said.

 

A quiet zone would mean freight trains not sounding their horns while approaching crossings anywhere in the city.

 

Over the past several years, the city has taken the steps required for obtaining quiet zone status by doing things such as providing two stop arms on each side of crossings to keep motorists from driving around stop arms to try and beat an approaching train across the tracks.

 

Local officials strongly believe it’s a quality of life issue, considering Norfolk Southern averages a train passing through the city about every 20 minutes.