After 14 Years, Downtown Kent Quiet Zone Takes Effect Today

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

After 14 Years, Downtown Kent Quiet Zone Takes Effect Today

Routine train horns end at eight BNSF mainline crossings following $3.5 million investment in railroad crossing safety improvements

KENT, Wash. - August 27, 2026 - After more than 14 years of planning, engineering, investment, and coordination, the City of Kent's new Quiet Zone along the BNSF Railway mainline officially took effect today, August 27.

Beginning today, trains are no longer required to routinely sound their horns at eight BNSF mainline crossings between S. 259th Street and S. 212th Street, providing significant quality-of-life improvement for residents and businesses along the rail corridor. This week, the Federal Railroad Administration began communicating with and educating train engineers to this new process which will take a short time to fully implement.

"This is a huge day for Kent and especially for the residents and businesses who have lived with train horns day and night for years," said Mayor Dana Ralph. "We never lost sight of the fact that safety had to come first. We made significant improvements to our railroad crossings, worked through a rigorous federal process, and today we can finally deliver the quieter downtown and neighborhoods our community has been asking for. I'm incredibly proud that we got this done."

The Quiet Zone includes the BNSF mainline crossings at:

• S. 212th Street
• James Street
• Smith Street
• Meeker Street
• Gowe Street
• Titus Street
• Willis Street (State Route 516)
• S. 259th Street

Safety remains the foundation of the Quiet Zone. Train engineers retain the authority to sound their horns whenever they observe a hazard or believe there is a safety concern, including when a pedestrian, vehicle, animal, or other obstruction is on or near the tracks. Horns may also continue to sound at spur crossings outside the designated Quiet Zone.

"For Public Works, the most important thing we want people to understand about this Quiet Zone is that safety has been at the center of this project from the very beginning," said Kent Public Works Director Chad Bieren. "A Quiet Zone does not prohibit train horns. Engineers can still sound their horns anytime they see a hazard or believe there is a safety concern."

Significant Safety Improvements Made Quiet Zone Possible

Before establishing the Quiet Zone, Kent was required to conduct a comprehensive railroad crossing diagnostic process involving safety and technical experts from BNSF, the Federal Railroad Administration, Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, Washington State Department of Transportation, Amtrak, and Sound Transit.

Based on recommendations from that diagnostic process, the City completed significant infrastructure and safety improvements, including:

• Upgraded pedestrian crossings
• New barrier curb medians
• Upgraded pavement markings
• New roadway signage
• Railroad signal upgrades
• Interconnection of railroad signals with City traffic signals

Approximately $3.5 million was invested in improvements and related work. Of that amount, approximately $2.5 million came from state funding through the Washington State Department of Commerce.

The improvements allowed Kent to meet rigorous federal safety requirements while reducing the routine train horn noise experienced by residents and businesses along a corridor that sees approximately 50 to 60 BNSF trains each day.

"This isn't simply about making Downtown Kent quieter. It's about making it an even better place to live, work, visit, and do business," said Gaila Haas of the Kent Downtown Partnership. "Reducing that routine noise makes Downtown Kent a more welcoming and enjoyable place."

A Major Change for Families Living Along the Tracks

For residents of neighborhoods such as North Park, which sits immediately adjacent to the railroad corridor, today's change will be felt well beyond Downtown Kent's businesses.

"For those of us who live near the tracks, the train horns aren't something we occasionally hear. They're part of our everyday lives, and our nights," said North Park resident Helena Caldwell. "For families like mine who live along the tracks, this is going to make a very real difference in our everyday lives. We're really looking forward to a little more peace and quiet in our neighborhood."

The City Council supported the long-term investment necessary to improve crossing safety and establish the Quiet Zone.

"For our Council, the Quiet Zone is ultimately about the people we serve," said Kent City Council President Satwinder Kaur. "It's about residents who live near these tracks. It's about families trying to sleep at night. It's about our downtown businesses and their customers. And it's about creating a Downtown Kent where people want to live, work, shop, dine, and spend time."

Fourteen Years in the Making

The Quiet Zone represents the culmination of City effort involving Public Works employees, current and former City Councilmembers, state and federal elected officials, railroad and transit partners, downtown businesses, and residents.

Former Kent City Councilmember Dennis Higgins was a longtime advocate for establishing the Quiet Zone. Former State Representative Pat Sullivan championed state support for the project and helped secure millions of dollars in funding for the necessary safety improvements.

When the City needed assistance securing final federal approval, U.S. Senator Patty Murray and members of her staff worked with the Federal Railroad Administration to help bring the lengthy process to completion.

"Fourteen years. That's how long the City of Kent has been working toward the moment we're celebrating today," said Mayor Dana Ralph. "There were certainly times during that process when this project was complicated, when requirements changed, and when the finish line probably seemed a long way away. But Kent kept working."

"This was truly a team effort," Ralph added. "Thank you to everyone who helped make it happen, and congratulations, Kent."

Quiet Zone Does Not Mean "No Horns"

The City reminds residents that a Quiet Zone eliminates the routine sounding of train horns at designated crossings. It does not prohibit their use.

Train engineers remain responsible for the safe operation of their trains and may sound a horn whenever they believe circumstances require an additional warning. Residents should continue to obey all railroad crossing signals, gates, signs, and other warnings and should never walk or drive around lowered crossing gates.

The Quiet Zone applies to the BNSF mainline only. Train horns may continue to be heard from other railroad operations and at spur crossings outside the designated Quiet Zone.

Media Contact

Kyle Moore
Government Affairs & Regional Policy Manager
City of Kent
253-856-5702