Photo: James Rojas/ WBZ NewsRadio
NEEDHAM, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The town of Needham's effort to create a commuter rail quiet zone is back on track.
Needham officials said they are trying to silence the horns of the commuter rail trains in the area. For many who live near the commuter rail, the blaring sound of the train's horn has been their early morning alarm clock and late-night deep sleep interrupter.
"All the time. 5:30 in the morning, 12:30 at night, lots of horns," one resident said.
"I would say it's a daily annoyance. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, we live down the street, so we pretty much hear it all day," another resident said.
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For years, officials in Needham have been hoping their MBTA Quiet Zone project would gain traction, and the town says it's back in talks with the MBTA after a pause in communication. While some residents might be thrilled about the update, others say they have become accustomed to the noise.
"I'm kind of used to it. It's never really bothered me. It's just kind of like what I'm, it's like my usual hearing. I like, I don't even register it anymore," one local said.
The town is in its design phase of the project, which includes identifying infrastructure changes and safety measures to bypass the need for a horn.
In a statement to WBZ NewsRadio, town manager Katie King said the Needham select board hopes that quiet zone will reduce train noise "while maintaining the highest standards of public safety. The Town is currently in the design phase of this project, identifying specific infrastructure changes and additional safety measures required at each of the five public rail crossings in Neeham to meet Federal Railroad Administration regulations. The Town is working closely with the MBTA, who owns the railway infrastructure, on how the project could be constructed once the design is finalized.”
WBZ NewsRadio’s James Rojas (@JamesRojasMMJ) reports.
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