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Re: Study finds declining air pollution from Metrolink maintenance yard
Author: mook
Date: 11-17-2014 - 11:38
>Schiff said the health risk assessment provides valuable information
>about the reduction in air pollution from the maintenance yard, though
>more needs to be done.
>
>"The community still has many questions about the effects of rail
>operations on a variety of other health outcomes ranging from asthma to
>pulmonary disease," Schiff said. "As we grow our public transportation
>networks we must do so responsibly."
Yep. End Evil Thomas etc etc. But note that the study points out that the big stink regarding emissions in that area is I-5 (2013 numbers except truck % is 2012):
Dist..Rte..CO..PostMile..Description......Ahead_Peak_Hr..Ahead_AADT..Truck_%
7 5 LA 20.444 JCT. RTE. 110 19900 287000 5.01
(See: [traffic-counts.dot.ca.gov] and [traffic-counts.dot.ca.gov])
As cleaner locomotives move into Metrolink's fleet and they are more aggressive about shutting things down when parked (would be nice to do that at Union Station too, but I understand they want to be able to leave at any time without calling somebody who's certified to start the locomotive), their system will become even less significant as an emission source. But of course it's there and visisble and DIESEL so it's bad. Even converting to all electrics wouldn't help much in terms of visibility, and if overhead wires are used (the most practical, considering that freight still has to be handled and there will still be grade crossings outside of the HSR zone) it will be OH NO RUINING OUR VIEWS (of what?).
Suspect there are noise complaints too, even though on a sound level meter at any reasonable location nearby I-5, 110, 2, and the main streets probably overwhelm all but the grade crossing horns (and even that only at short range). Note that many people who are hit (or close calls) on the tracks never heard the train coming, even if they aren't fully plugged in to their headphones.
Seriously, Metrolink has made progress, and has budgeted money to continue (slowly, as is necessary in their situation) improvements. The study documents early results of that. Good.
>about the reduction in air pollution from the maintenance yard, though
>more needs to be done.
>
>"The community still has many questions about the effects of rail
>operations on a variety of other health outcomes ranging from asthma to
>pulmonary disease," Schiff said. "As we grow our public transportation
>networks we must do so responsibly."
Yep. End Evil Thomas etc etc. But note that the study points out that the big stink regarding emissions in that area is I-5 (2013 numbers except truck % is 2012):
Dist..Rte..CO..PostMile..Description......Ahead_Peak_Hr..Ahead_AADT..Truck_%
7 5 LA 20.444 JCT. RTE. 110 19900 287000 5.01
(See: [traffic-counts.dot.ca.gov] and [traffic-counts.dot.ca.gov])
As cleaner locomotives move into Metrolink's fleet and they are more aggressive about shutting things down when parked (would be nice to do that at Union Station too, but I understand they want to be able to leave at any time without calling somebody who's certified to start the locomotive), their system will become even less significant as an emission source. But of course it's there and visisble and DIESEL so it's bad. Even converting to all electrics wouldn't help much in terms of visibility, and if overhead wires are used (the most practical, considering that freight still has to be handled and there will still be grade crossings outside of the HSR zone) it will be OH NO RUINING OUR VIEWS (of what?).
Suspect there are noise complaints too, even though on a sound level meter at any reasonable location nearby I-5, 110, 2, and the main streets probably overwhelm all but the grade crossing horns (and even that only at short range). Note that many people who are hit (or close calls) on the tracks never heard the train coming, even if they aren't fully plugged in to their headphones.
Seriously, Metrolink has made progress, and has budgeted money to continue (slowly, as is necessary in their situation) improvements. The study documents early results of that. Good.
