The Bryan city council is taking the next step to reduce train horns blowing in the downtown area.
A council majority agreed to spend about $50,000 dollars on consultants and preliminary studies for establishing a quiet zone.
If approved, the maximum cost was estimated at more than $4 million dollars to make changes at 24 crossings.
Developer Chris Lawrence says the quiet zone is important to getting people who are not used to the horns to live and work downtown.
Mayor Jason Bienski has also heard support from downtown businessowners.
At 18 of the 24 locations, medians would be added in the middle of streets to prevent motorists from driving around gates.
There would be closures at two locations, something that had the support of Mike Southerland.
Councilman Ben Hardeman, who remembered when the cost was one million per crossing, says the benefit extends beyond downtown.
The council was told Union Pacific has made a monetary offer in the six digits to close the crossing at Groesbeck, the third busiest in Bryan.
The council was also asked to consider closing the crossing at Reed Street.
Changes at other locations include converting two-gate crossings at street crossings to four gates, modifying the pedestrian crossing by the library, and installing horns at the Pease Street crossing that would take the place of the train engine horns.
Click HERE to read and download the presentation made to the city council.
