CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Many residents of Aurora’s west side are reporting a lower quality of life in the last six months, because of the blowing of freight train horns in the middle of the night.
Aurora said the problems began when the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad switched the time of day it ran its freight trains on the NIFA Spur Line along Highland Avenue from daytime to nighttime.
Aurora said the change happened when the pandemic hit and the economy slowed.
“Imagine being startled out of your sleep by random train horns that ring for 15 minutes straight,” said one concerned resident. “This is more than a minor irritation. It is a major frustration for all of my neighbors, their children, and their pets.”
4th Ward Alderman Bill Donnell lives a half-block from a set of tracks.
"There’s a number of grade crossings right here in the neighborhood. We understand they have to blow the whistle to warn people, but when it's at night, it's pretty disturbing for folks," he said.
Ald. Donnell said he and a deputy city mayor have been in discussions with the BNSF to see what can be done about the problem. While BNSF has been responsive, no changes can be confirmed until the economy recovers enough to allow for a reverse change in operations.
BNSF spokeswoman Courtney Wallace said meanwhile, the railroad's trains are required to blow their horns at grade crossings no matter what the time is unless the crossings have been retrofitted as an official Quiet Zone.
She said communities can pursue quiet zones, which can only be granted by the FRA. A quiet zone is a stretch of track where the railroad is not required to automatically sound the horn at each crossing except in emergencies or for track maintenance or construction work within 25 feet of live track.
"When it's at night, it's pretty disturbing for folks, especially if the windows are open. But, even with the windows close, you know with everything else going on, people are kind of light sleepers and this doesn't help," Ald. Donnell said.
Because railways are under federal jurisdiction, Aurora will continue to meet with the Office of Congressman Bill Foster to review legal remedies. Residents are advised to submit concerns to Congressman Foster’s office at 630-585-7672 or visit his website at www.foster.house.gov to send an email.