Altamont Press Discussion Board :: Discussion :: Re: Downtown Palo Alto residents seek relief from train noise

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.

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Subject	Written By	Date/Time (PST)
Downtown Palo Alto residents seek relief from train noise	WebDigger	10-23-2014 - 14:49
Re: Downtown Palo Alto residents seek relief from train noise	Espee99	10-23-2014 - 15:34
Cry Baby Liberals!	Blahahahhahhahahah!!!!!	10-23-2014 - 15:54
Re: Cry Baby Liberals!	Nudge	10-23-2014 - 17:45
Re: Cry Baby Liberals!	HUTCH 7.62	10-23-2014 - 19:04
Re: Crybaby Yuppies!	Margaret (SP fan)	10-23-2014 - 22:14
Re: Crybaby Yuppies!	Brian	10-24-2014 - 11:08
Re: Crybaby Yuppies!	BOB2	10-24-2014 - 12:00
Re: Crybaby Yuppies!	mook	10-24-2014 - 19:38
Re: Crybaby Yuppies!	E9	10-24-2014 - 19:51
Re: All those night freight trains?	Q	10-25-2014 - 13:46
Cry Baby Baggers!	Edward	10-24-2014 - 12:02
Re: Cry Baby Baggers!	HUTCH 7.62	10-25-2014 - 23:02
Re: Cry Baby Baggers!	Sumotuwe	10-26-2014 - 09:21
Democrats, Republicans are all crooks!	Independent Voter	10-29-2014 - 07:48
This is a California Site	Edward	10-29-2014 - 13:11
Re: Downtown Palo Alto residents seek relief from train noise	Argonaut	10-24-2014 - 03:24
Re: Downtown Palo Alto residents seek relief from train noise	The Stereo-Typist	10-24-2014 - 16:21
Re: Downtown Palo Alto residents seek relief from train noise	Alvah Crocker	10-24-2014 - 17:38
Re: Downtown Palo Alto residents seek relief from train noise	mook	10-24-2014 - 19:09
Re: Downtown Palo Alto residents seek relief from train noise	hmarkwart	10-25-2014 - 12:41
Re: Downtown Palo Alto residents seek relief from train noise	Q	10-25-2014 - 14:17

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mook Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 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.

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