The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), part of the Department of Transportation, announced an update to the Nationwide Significant Risk Threshold (NSRT), which is related to the use of locomotive horns at public highway-rail grade crossings. This action helps communities establish quiet zones by providing a standard to assess risks when train horns are not routinely sounded. The NSRT has been increased from 13,811 to 15,488 based on recent collision data. This adjustment aims to ensure safety while allowing communities to manage noise levels effectively.
Simple Explanation
The Federal Railroad Administration says that when trains come to certain crossings where no train horn is sounded ("quiet zones"), there is a new number that helps measure how safe it is. This number, which is a little higher now, helps keep everyone safe while keeping the noise down.