No train whistles at 7 street crossings

All's quiet on Salt Lake City's western front.

As of Wednesday Union Pacific freight trains along the 900 South rail line no longer blare their whistles when they pass seven residential street crossings.

A $700,000 allocation from the City Council and months of negotiation by Mayor Rocky Anderson's office led to the creation of the new 900 South quiet zone, which officially began Wednesday.

The zone is much appreciated by Poplar Grove residents who live near the line.

"This is a great day for our community," Janette Gonzales said. "It does give me faith that the mayor's office, the City Council and everybody can come together and fight for what's right."

The trains do still ring antique bells when they cross the streets, but those quiet bells are a far decibel cry from the blaring train horns.

City Councilman Van Turner joked that he will miss the blaring whistles and even pulled out a novelty train whistle at a press conference announcing the new zones.

Anderson urged people to be careful when they cross the tracks since the loud horns no longer warn of approaching trains.

"One accident along this route could jeopardize the continuation of this quite zone," he said.

The zone was created after transportation officials used the $700,000 to put in special crossing gates that prevent cars from driving around the gates.