The downtown upgrades and progress aren’t limited to what you see and hear. They will soon include what you don’t hear.
“Quiet zones” are coming. You heard that right. That’s how far we’ve come. Aesthetics and ambience matter. Especially where residential infill is such a key component–and catalyst.
Thanks to a $1.35 million Florida Department of Transportation grant, the city can now move forward on a plan to silence those horn-blasting, CSX trains that pass through in the dread of night. Federal rules require engineers to sound their horns 15 to 20 seconds before reaching a public crossing. And downtown Tampa has nine of them.
The city is expected to match the DOT grant with redevelopment property tax revenues that will pay for gates, medians and signage to comply with quiet zone requirements. Work is expected to start in June.
It’s part of being cool.