Wayside horn installation complete

Wayside horn installation complete
Posted on 07/22/2021

Construction just wrapped up on new wayside horns in Old Town Lenexa. After a short testing period, they will significantly reduce noise pollution from trains in the area.

Quieting noise from passing trains at the Pflumm Road and Noland Road railroad crossings has long been a priority for the 1,200 residents and businesses who live within a half-mile of the crossings. Wayside horns – stationary horns that emit a targeted sound that alert drivers to approaching trains – are an effective way to reduce noise pollution from trains.

Once staff and the City Council received overwhelmingly positive feedback from business owners and residents at a wayside horn test in May 2018, funding was approved to install wayside horns at the two Old Town crossings and contract negotiations began between the City and railroad.

BNSF notified the City of Lenexa that signal control upgrades necessary to install the wayside horns were complete in April 2021. In late June, the City received word from the railroad that the horn installation could begin. This work finished in mid-July.

For a 30-day testing period, the wayside horns and train horns will both sound to ensure that the new system is working properly. The City of Lenexa is now waiting for BNSF to announce when this testing period can begin.


Published July 22, 2021