North-suburb residents with train tracks cutting through their town are about to get reacquainted with the sound of silence.
Or at least something quieter than it has been in recent years, when train traffic has picked up.
Quiet zones will finally take effect in Shoreview and Little Canada on June 15, according to a notification the city of Shoreview recently received from Canadian Pacific Rail.
Implementation of the zone, which has been long awaited in the communities, means all four at-grade rail crossings in Shoreview will become 24-hour quiet zones. The same will apply to the six crossings in Little Canada between County Road B and Woodlyn Avenue, the city of Shoreview reported this week.
Work on upgrading the necessary crossing signals to meet the Federal Rail Administration’s requirements for quiet zones began in April.
The zones allow train conductors to lay off their whistles when passing through the designated areas, unless necessary. Outside of quiet zones, horns are blown four times on the approach to every crossing.
The state Legislature in 2014 earmarked about $2 million to Shoreview and Little Canada to help cover the costs of the required signal upgrades.
The cities also contributed funding.