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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - New funding from the state has construction of the quiet zone project on track to begin later this year.

The project will ultimately silence the loud horn you hear coming from the trains that travel through downtown Columbia.

“It quite startling to hear in the middle of the night,” said one University of South Carolina student.

“I love the railroads. I feel like they’re a staple in the city, but I could do without the noise,” said another student.

But soon enough that noise will be no more.

The project would impact railroad crossings from Whaley Street to Colonial Avenue.

Quiet zones include adding extra safety mechanisms at railroad stops in lieu of the loud whistle you hear coming from the trains.

“Under the federal law, trains have to blow their horns within 500 yards of an intersection, and have to continue blowing until they’ve cleared the way,” said Sen. Dick Harpootlian, D-Richland.

However, quiet zones are allowed by federal law but have specific regulations including double arms that would come down at crossings when a train is approaching.

Harpootlian said quiet zones are much safer because they prevent cars from driving around them.

“We are a city with a number of very vibrant downtown neighborhoods,” Harpootlian said.

“My goal as state senator and as a resident is to make those neighborhoods as livable as possible and part of the problem is noise and we can do something about that with this,” he said.

According to the recently approved state budget $1.5 million was allocated to the project. That’s in addition to the more than roughly $2 million previously allocated. The price tag for the project is estimated to be roughly $5 million.

“We started off with, I got $400,000 from the state and the city matched another $400,000. Which gave us $800,000. Then the university because it goes right through their campus kicked in a million and eight and then this year I got an additional 1.5 for a total of 3.3,” he said.

Harpootlian said additional funding is still needed, but construction for the project is expected to begin in the Fall.

City Councilman Will Brennan said that additional funding would come from the Richland County Penny tax. That’s if voters approve the tax in November.

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