HOUSTON — A man in north Houston has been dealing with the relentless clamor of train horns since 1992, and he is still awaiting relief after he and his neighbors filed for a designated “quiet zone” nearly 20 years ago.
Jeffery Pickens, who resides just a block away from busy train tracks, describes the noise as intrusive, feeling as though the sounds are echoing directly into his living space.
“I’m recording this in the house not outside. This is in the house? I’m sitting here. This is where I’m recording this,” Pickens demonstrated, capturing the overpowering sound from within his home.
The continuous disturbance has severely impacted the quality of life for Pickens and his neighbors, with many struggling to find peace during night hours.
“This is ridiculous. Five or six trains a day,” said Pickens, lamenting the frequency of train passages at all hours.
In 2005, Pickens, alongside numerous community members, submitted an application to the city for their area to be designated as a “quiet zone” to mitigate the noise problem.
However, nearly 20 years later, they are still awaiting a resolution, leading Pickens to question, “It’s just like why can’t we have signs where we live at. You know we’re living here.”
City officials had earlier communicated to KHOU 11 that the Independence Heights area was pending federal funds to advance the project.
To complicate matters, Pickens’s push for change is hindered by the fact that Texas’s 18th Congressional District, which he resides in, is currently without a representative.
“I was told that the request has to come from your congressional district,” he said, emphasizing the importance of a congressional advocate for the project.
The congressional seat for District 18 has been vacant following the passing of former Representative Sylvester Turner.
“Sheila Jackson Lee was working on this about trying to get things taken care of, and she passed last year, and Sylvester Turner said he would take a look at this and try to get it and then he passed on,” Pickens recalled, illustrating the ongoing difficulty in finding support for their cause.
Currently, Houston boasts 13 designated quiet zones, yet the pathway to establish new ones is fraught with complexity and can be time-consuming.
Houston Public Works has explained that the process for establishing a quiet zone necessitates thorough reviews and collaboration not only among city officials but also with the Federal Railroad Administration.
Even when approval is granted, the implementation of these measures frequently requires significant funding to enhance safety at rail crossings, which allows trains to pass without sounding their horns.
Despite the lengthy wait, Pickens remains resolute in his fight.
When asked about his plans moving forward, he stated, “Well keep fighting. I’ve been here like I said since 1992 and we’ve been fighting for ever since and I just feel like somebody’s gonna get something done.”
With the congressional seat currently vacant, Pickens and his neighbors find themselves in limbo, pondering who can assist in propelling their request forward.
KHOU 11 reached out to Houston City Councilman Mario Castillo, who oversees District H.
In a statement, Castillo noted: “The funding for quiet zone projects through the City of Houston has been exhausted since 2019. My office has been in contact with Mr. Pickens regarding his request, and we’re actively working to identify pathways to move this project forward, including potential collaboration with state and county representatives in the absence of Federal representation.
These trains are loud, and when you’re just trying to get a good night’s sleep so you can show up for your job, your family, or your community, that noise can become more than a nuisance; it becomes a quality of life issue. I remain committed to supporting District H residents in seeking meaningful relief from excessive train noise.”
For Pickens, who has dedicated much of his life to advocating for change, there is a mix of hope and frustration.
“I just hope that we can get this done,” he expressed. “Done during my lifetime.”
image source from：khou
