HOUSTON -- There are more than 10,000 miles of train tracks across Texas. Along with the rail cars and crossings comes the noise of loud engines and blaring horns. But some cities are paying more to keep trains quiet.

Perry Thomas, of Brenham, asked KPRC Local 2 investigative reporter Amy Davis why the cost is not covered by the railroad companies since they're the ones making all the racket.

Federal law requires train engineers to blow their horns 15 to 20 seconds before entering railroad crossings. But in 2005, the Federal Railroad Administration started letting states and cities make certain areas quiet zones, putting a lid on those loud horns.

The warning horn of a train approaching is more of an annoyance than an alert to people who live near the tracks.

"We've been living with this kind of noise for, well, forever because the railroad has been there forever," said Cleola Williams, who lives near train tracks in Houston's First Ward.

In some areas, such as the West Loop between San Felipe and Willow Bend in Houston, the city has silenced the trains by making the area a quiet zone. Houston invested in barriers to prevent cars from driving into the crossing so trains do not need to blow their horns.

Sugar Land spent $850,000 on wayside horns that are mounted at nine railroad crossings along US 90A. The city said the horns are quieter and aimed directly at the roadway, unlike the horns mounted on moving trains.

So why are the cities bearing the cost of silencing the trains?

The Federal Railroad Administration said it is a safety issue. All warning lights and crossings, even horns, are stationed on city and state roadways, making the cost fall on the city and state.

Without extra precautions to insure drivers stay out of the crossing, railroad engineers say they are obligated to blow their horns to let drivers know they're coming.

The city of Houston only has one quiet zone now. It has submitted applications to make 14 other areas quiet zones.

More Information:

Quiet Zone Locations, June 17, 2008
Federal Railroad Administration Train Horn Rule Fact Sheet