Town Looks To Hush Train Whistles

A Rogers County town is trying for an Oklahoma first. Oologah is trying to become the first city in the state with a whistle-free zone on their train tracks. News On 6 anchor Omar Villafranca reports

Tuesday, November 13th 2007, 9:47 pm

By: News On 6

A Rogers County town is trying for an Oklahoma first. Oologah is trying to become the first city in the state with a whistle-free zone on their train tracks. News On 6 anchor Omar Villafranca reports Oologah residents are tired of losing sleep because of noisy trains.

"I live close enough to the tracks that if I'm in the middle of a conversation, we have to stop. Or if we have our windows up at night, we'll get up and see if it's the second coming,â€ said Dale Jackson, assistant city attorney.

Dale Jackson is working for the city to silence the whistles. The mayor and other city leaders plan to create a quiet zone through town where trains can't blow their horns. Jackson says the process takes time and approval from the federal government.

"It's been over a year in the works. It seems like there has been nothing going on, but that's how government works,â€ said Oologahâ€™s assistant city attorney Dale Jackson.

But, there is progress. Jackson says the city's latest upgrades are vital to meeting federal requirements.

In order for the city to receive their upgrades, they had to shut down one of their crossings. Now, part of Atlas Street is closed. Once the upgrades are finished, the town will be a step closer to getting their whistle-free zone and becoming a quieter town.

"When we get the quiet zone, then all we will hear is the distant rumbling and continuing rumbling through town. No whistles,â€ said Dale Jackson, assistant city attorney.

No word yet on when the quiet zone will be a reality. The railroad crossing upgrades cost around $280,000. Union Pacific Railroad, the city and the federal government paid for the work.

Watch the video: Oologah Awaits Whistle Free Zone