Train horns will sound less often at certain highway crossings

The US railroad regulator is changing the definition of a "non-traversable curb" at highway-rail crossings. This means trains can now travel up to 45 miles per hour through crossings with these curbs without sounding their horns.

For years, train engineers had to sound their horns at every crossing, even where physical barriers made it impossible for cars to cross the tracks. This rule change means that where specific types of curbs are present, trains can pass through at higher speeds without the horn. This reduces noise pollution for communities near these crossings.