FRA approves Voli Drive inclusion in Silver Line quiet zone; Coppell says trains will stop routine horn blasts

City engineers told the Coppell City Council on April 14 that the Federal Railroad Administration has approved adding the Voli Drive railroad crossing — on the far east edge of town near East Belt Line Road — to the Silver Line quiet zone.

Assistant Director of Public Works/Engineering Aaron Tainter said staff worked with DART and the FRA and collected additional data after residents reported routine, disruptive horn blasts. He told Council the nearest residential land use is more than 2,000 feet from the crossing, which is beyond federal noise analysis thresholds; nonetheless, additional monitoring and coordination with DART led the FRA to approve inclusion of Voli Drive in the quiet zone. DART operations was updating Silver Line staff and planned to implement the change that week.

Several Council members and residents present thanked staff and DART for the quicker‑than‑expected work. Councilors and residents asked whether HOAs and apartment managers had been specifically notified; staff said DART’s communications team had been in touch with some HOAs but that staff would follow up to make sure Riverchase managers were notified.

Council was careful to note that a quiet zone removes routine scheduled horn blasts but does not remove horn use for safety: trains may still sound horns for hazards, vehicles on the tracks, pedestrians in the crossing, or other safety events.

Resident Todd Landram, speaking later during citizen comment, told Council the quiet zone took effect that morning and that neighbors had noticed an immediate reduction in horn noise.

Council asked staff to coordinate direct outreach to affected property managers and apartment communities and to report back on communications and any follow‑up noise monitoring.