Future commuters and nearby neighborhoods alike are going to have some peace and quiet, courtesy of the DART Silver Line Regional Rail. The new 26-mile regional rail service — coming to seven North Texas cities including Grapevine, Coppell, Dallas, Carrollton, Addison, Richardson, and Plano — has begun activating quiet zones near its tracks and stations.
DART began testing the Silver Line’s rail vehicles, crossings, and tracks earlier this year, using lights and horns while approaching intersections. Newly activated quiet zones will silence the train horns as they travel through the respective cities.
Dallas, Addison, and Coppell were the first cities where the zones were activated at the end of July. The cities of Plano, Carrollton, and Richardson will have the quiet zones activated by the end of August. Testing will continue in Plano, Carrollton, and Richardson with the goal of DART opening for passenger service before the end of 2025.
Specifically, quiet zones ensure residents, motorists, and pedestrians will no longer consistently hear the train horn as the vehicles approach a rail crossing or station. Train horns will only be used when necessary for safety, such as an object on or near the track obstructing the train’s path forward…