Residents across St. Louis are dealing with increased train noise after the city lost its federal “quiet zone” designation, which required trains to sound their horns when approaching railroad crossings, including during overnight hours.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) removed the designation after St. Louis failed to provide required documentation showing that its railroad crossings continue to meet federal safety standards. Those standards include proper signage, lighting, pavement markings and functioning crossing equipment.

The city says Mayor Tishaura Jones’ administration learned of the FRA’s decision on Sept. 10, 2026. According to a spokesperson for the mayor’s office, federal officials had been sending notices to former Chief of Staff Nancy Cross, who left city government 16 months ago.

The FRA says St. Louis is 217 months, or more than 18 years, behind in submitting the required paperwork.

The loss of the designation has had an immediate impact on residents in neighborhoods located near railroad crossings. Residents say train horns have disrupted sleep, with some reporting horns sounding repeatedly throughout the night.

A petition circulating online says there have been at least 15 nights of increased train-horn activity since the quiet zone was revoked, affecting 88 railroad crossings. Dogtown resident Tommy O’Shaughnessy organized the petition after experiencing the nighttime disruptions himself.

“We’re getting train horns basically from the time you go to bed until the time you wake up,” O’Shaughnessy said.

The petition calls on city officials to seek temporary relief from the FRA, establish a long-term plan to bring railroad crossings into compliance, and provide weekly updates on the city’s progress.

City officials say they began working to address the problem immediately after learning of the revocation. The mayor’s office held an emergency meeting the following day and contacted the FRA to develop a plan for restoring compliance.

The Streets Department has since begun making changes at railroad crossings, including removing outdated railroad bars, adding painted stop bars and expediting an order for hundreds of new signs. The city says it is prioritizing crossings in residential areas.

St. Louis officials expect to install new signage at residential crossings by the end of November and aim to complete all required upgrades by mid-December. The city also plans to begin providing weekly progress reports through the Streets Department.

Officials have additionally asked the FRA whether the agency can restore reduced horn requirements on a corridor-by-corridor basis while the city completes the necessary work. The FRA has not yet approved that request