Those gates lower across only one lane of traffic. Federal regulations state that locomotive horns must blow two long blasts, one short blast and another long blast at each intersection.

The blaring horns are intended to reduce the more than 4,000 annual train-car accidents reported in 2003.

To establish a quiet zone, Provo would have to pay for so-called quad gates, or four gates at each crossing instead of two.

Quad gates block both lanes of traffic on both sides of the tracks, preventing cars from skirting around a single gate and attempting to beat a train across the tracks.

A quad-gate system costs $300,000 to $500,000, according to estimates provided to the FRA by Union Pacific.

Train conductors who approach a railroad crossing with quad gates see a different light signal that indicates they should not blow the horn unless there is an emergency.

Spencer and Richards said the horn blasts not only grew in number when the federal regulation went into effect but also grew louder.

"It's not in the rule that they have to be louder," Spencer said. "We don't understand why some horns seem more intense and have more of an electronic sound to them.

"They wake us up, they interrupt our conversations and they're also annoying to the businesses downtown."

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E-mail: twalch@desnews.com

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