Neguse Amendment to Address Train Noise Approved by the House

The amendment will require the Federal Railroad Administration to provide research to Congress that could help cities qualify for a Quiet Zone

Washington D.C.— An amendment introduced by Congressman Joe Neguse to address train horn noise has passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The amendment was worked on in conjunction with City Officials in Fort Collins who are working to establish a Quiet Zone within the city. Congressman Neguse represents Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District where multiple cities and counties have railroad tracks running through them. The tracks often run through residential and downtown business areas, and noise pollution has been a concern among residents for years in cities such as Fort Collins. The amendment requires the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to report research on additional Supplementary Safety Measures (SSM) and Alternative Safety Measures (ASM) to Congress, which can then be used by communities in the Second Congressional District to assist in qualifying for a Quiet Zone. The amendment will also require the FRA to report on SSM and ASM measures communities have submitted through the Quiet Zone process and why those requests were not granted—in order to increase transparency for communities throughout the Quiet Zone process. The amendment was included in H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, a comprehensive infrastructure bill being considered in the House this week.

“The issue of noise pollution caused by train horns has been a concern among Fort Collins residents for quite some time,” said Congressman Joe Neguse. “We have been working closely with our city planners to find a role for Congress to address this issue. This amendment will make it easier for cities like Fort Collins, and others with similar issues, to access additional information they can use to qualify for a Quiet Zone.”

“The City of Fort Collins is very supportive of this amendment and grateful for Congressman Neguse’s efforts to help municipalities navigate and succeed in obtaining quiet zones,” said Fort Collins Mayor Wade Troxell. “After years of effort, applications, and time invested the City of Fort Collins still struggles to get clear direction from the FRA on alternative paths and safety measures that we could implement to secure a quiet zone.”

View text of the amendment here.