District 5 (Haven for Hope) Quiet Zone
District 5 (Haven for Hope) Quiet Zone
The San Antonio Transportation Department will be making improvements to the Quiet Zone crossings near the Haven for Hope to bring the crossings into compliance with federal regulations.
For questions or comments regarding the Haven for Hope Quiet Zones: call 855-925-2801 and enter code 10307. Or, email us at SAquietzones@publicinput.com.
What's Happening?
Estimated Construction Timeline
Construction of railroad crossing improvements are scheduled to begin in November 2024 and be completed by January 2025 (weather permitting)* at these railroad crossings:
- Arbor Pl.
- Ruiz St.
- Leal St.
- Hardberger Way
- W. Martin St.
Drivers can expect temporary delays at the listed crossings, and a full-day closure on Leal Street when construction begins. Closures are not expected to last more than 24 hours and will be staggered to minimize impact to travel. Please seek alternate routes during construction..
*Train horns will continue to be heard until FRA and Union Pacific confirm and approve the new Quiet Zone features.
Why are we still hearing train horns?
The Quiet Zone improvements need to be accepted by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) before the horns can be silenced.
This Quiet Zone failed a random inspection in 2021. The FRA has since allowed train engineers to sound horns until such time as the crossings' deficiencies are remedied and accepted by FRA and UPRR. The Transportation Department is actively auditing all Quiet Zone crossings within San Antonio to determine their state of repair and proactively seek funding to make any necessary repairs to remain in or re-establish compliance.
Quiet Zone Formation in San Antonio
Brady Blvd. Quiet Zone
NOVEMBER 2011: Established in District 5
Lone Star Rockport Quiet Zone
FEBRUARY 2013: Established in District 5
Haven for Hope Quiet Zone
JUNE 2013: Established in District 5
Frio City Rd & Lone Star Del Rio Quiet Zones
MARCH 2015: Established in District 5
FRA Random Inspections of Quiet Zones
APRIL 2021 / SEPTEMBER 2021
FRA performs two random inspection cycles, indentifying several Quiet Zone crossings in need of additional maintenance, re-striping, additional signage, and other improvements. Transportation Department mobilizes to establish funding and processes to remediate.
Quiet Zone Crossings Audits
JUNE 2022: Transportation Department engineers begin assessing Quiet Zone crossings city-wide.
Quiet Zone Budget for Maintenance
FISCAL YEAR 2023
Transportation Dept. establishes Quiet Zone maintenance budget of $200,000 to immediately address Quiet Zones deficiencies
Develops maintenance plan budget of $250,000/year and a 4-year maintenance rotation schedule of all locations
FRA: Sound Horns at Frio City Rd
OCTOBER 2022: Transportation Department is notified the FRA will allow horns to sound due to deficiencies at Frio City Rd Quiet Zone crossings.
Frio City Rd Quiet Zone Improvement Plans Submitted
JUNE 2023: Submitted improvement plans to FRA and UPRR for review in a process that can take months before improvements are accepted or rejected by these outside agencies.
MAY 2024: Installation of improvements begin
Quiet Zone crossing improvements are scheduled for May at these railroad crossings:
- So. Brazos
- Pendelton
- Cumberland
- Drake
- Harriman Place
Frio City Rd Quiet Zone Improvements are accepted
Installed improvements will await final inspection by FRA and Union Pacific. FRA then instructs Union Pacific the Quiet Zone is established and the horns may go silent.
Train Horns go silent!
