Grafton – Today, traffic noise is part of our everyday life, but in Grafton, residents have been complaining about a different type of traffic noise – railroad horns.
Officials from the Grafton and Upton Railroad are now currently working with town officials to find a way to reduce the noise from the horns that blow at the intersection of North Main, East Street, and Waterville streets.
According to the Federal Railroad Administration, locomotive engineers must begin to sound train horns at least 15 seconds, and no more than 20 seconds, in advance of all public grade crossings. Municipalities that wish to establish a “quiet zone” must first mitigate the increased risk caused by the absence of a horn. To do so will require significant planning and expense.
Town officials will discuss this issue again in mid-September.
