I would think that the citizens should object to any more sound walls, or any other unsightly "Berlin Walls" dividing up our cities.

Moreover, passengers should object, especially if the walls are higher than the bottom of the train windows, making for an unpleasant ride. And since an unpleasant ride will discourage ridership, the transit agency should object, as should every thoughtful environmentalist who wants to encourage us getting out of our cars.

To top it off, every taxpayer should object, as each sound wall costs over a million per mile to build. He!!, even an ordinary fence costs about $110,000 per mile. Worse yet, real science says they are totally ineffective, except within about a hundred yards or so of the wall; and often make sound levels considerably worse on the other side of the tracks.

Gee Whiz! Another reason to not live on the "Wrong side of the tracks"!


Perhaps people should simply expect to get used to a certain amount of urban noise if they choose to live in an urban area.

There: Problem solved --- and for $0.00 per mile too!