Train horns to go quiet in Libertyville, Grayslake

Train horns on the Milwaukee West line through Libertyville and Grayslake soon will be silenced following a determination by the Federal Railroad Administration.

The agency recently informed the villages that it takes no exception to the joint quiet zone application, which has been ongoing for some time.

"They have in essence approved the quiet zone," Libertyville Village Administrator Kevin Bowens said. "That's the big hurdle to get over."

The zone, in which trains are not allowed to sound their horns at crossings, will span six crossing from Alleghany Road in Grayslake to Milwaukee Avenue in Libertyville.

A quiet zone already is in place for the Canadian National line, which is used by Metra's North Central service stretching from Antioch to Wheeling and including Grayslake and Libertyville.

The villages have been stymied in the application for the Milwaukee Road north line for at least two years.

The federal approval is contingent on the installation of roadway delineators or barriers to keep vehicles from going around crossing gates, as well as "No Train Horn" signs at state and county roads.

The St. Marys Road crossing, which would require much more extensive work, is not included in the quiet zone, Bowens said.

Once the barriers and signs are in place, the FRA will notify various state and federal agencies and the zone will go into effect three weeks later.

A timetable has not been established, but the village is working diligently to have the equipment installed "because I know there are a lot of people who want to get this in place," Bowens said.

"The Milwaukee North district line obviously is the one that goes through a lot of residential neighborhoods," he added.