Re: Downtown Palo Alto residents seek relief from train noise
Author: mook
Date: 10-24-2014 - 19:09
This is Palo Alto. Money is there; the holders just don't want to spend it on anybody but themselves (individually, not as a town). What they need is:
1) eliminate the crossings entirely. To do that you need either a viaduct or a trench through town. Trench would be more expensive but probably more visually acceptable. Tunnel (cover the trench) won't work until ...
2) electrify the line so you don't get the sound of those diesel engines (happening, but it'll take a while; but then there are the night freights) ... and
3) put up big sound walls around the tracks where they're at or above grade; looks horrible but yes, it does work. You can always plant trees (anybody remember what "Palo Alto" means?) and vines in front of them as is done along freeways, or add some "public art" that hopefully won't get immediately remodeled by the midnight spray can public.
All it takes is money. Palo Alto (proper, not East) has it. If the railroad would work as-is, which it does, then (as with grade separations in general) the town has to bring the majority of the extra money for trench or viaduct (or even quiet zone) to the table.
Quiet zone is a dumb idea on that line. Too many people ignore grade crossing warnings already. Need to BARTicize it but hopefully (given that it's mostly straight track) without the squeal.