U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., announced in a news release Friday that Amtrak's president has committed to collaborate with Stonington "to reduce noise issues that violate the town’s 'Quiet Zone' policy."

Officials have been pressing for loop detectors and quad gates at the Walkers Dock and Freeman Island rail crossings. Without the infrastructure, trains sound their horns at the crossings.

During a U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation hearing this week, Blumenthal asked Amtrak President and CEO Charles W. Moorman IV for a commitment to work with Stonington to resolve the concerns that are "extremely pressing to the town of Stonington and the people who live in the region."

"You absolutely have the Amtrak commitment on that," Moorman said. "We will assist in any way that we can, helping the town through that process."

Blumenthal, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, wrote Moorman a letter in December about the need for improvements.

Blumenthal visited Stonington Town Hall in December where he and Stonington First Selectman Rob Simmons requested Amtrak make the $902,000 in upgrades.