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Re: I bought a home next to the train, and I want it stopped NOW!
Author: BOB2
Date: 11-30-2015 - 18:02
Mook,
It is MTA, not Metrolink, that has managed to screw this up, with poor outreach and disturbing public responses by staff and/or contractors to crazy claims. An EIR/EIS is not required, this is technically an exempt project on a existing main line, on privately owned UPRR ROW, regardless of the public use easement. And the balance of the law and precedent has clearly favored the RR's legal pre-emption for upgrades, just like this second track project, on existing lines for both public and private RR's (not new lines), an have ruled against such NIMBY legal harassment, as that we witnessed with the NWP.
This will put the tracks on average about 17 feet closer on one side, zero on the other side, of a 150' existing ROW, on a segment adjacent to some incredibly large estate sized lots. This is about Neighborhood Council politics and the efforts of a very motivated small group exaggerating dangers and going door to door. The hypothetical risk of a rail derailment, which then ends up affecting their property. and the relative difference in noise disturbance is about the same in this neighborhood as from planes landing at Bob Hope, or taking off from Van Nuys, but they've not asked the City of LA to shut those down (yet?), that I know of????
Yes, many of these people would be quite happy with a sound/privacy wall, but as long as MTA staff are involved I am prepared to be less than impressed, with the likelihood of much progress, especially since this list of more dubious MTA politicians have decided to pander to this noisy fearmongering group of Neighborhood Council political wannabee's. MTA's failure makes the case as to why Regional Services and Systems need dedicated regional system funding, so as not to be held hostage to the whims of those pandering to parochial City of LA politics, at the too LA City dominated, MTA.
It is MTA, not Metrolink, that has managed to screw this up, with poor outreach and disturbing public responses by staff and/or contractors to crazy claims. An EIR/EIS is not required, this is technically an exempt project on a existing main line, on privately owned UPRR ROW, regardless of the public use easement. And the balance of the law and precedent has clearly favored the RR's legal pre-emption for upgrades, just like this second track project, on existing lines for both public and private RR's (not new lines), an have ruled against such NIMBY legal harassment, as that we witnessed with the NWP.
This will put the tracks on average about 17 feet closer on one side, zero on the other side, of a 150' existing ROW, on a segment adjacent to some incredibly large estate sized lots. This is about Neighborhood Council politics and the efforts of a very motivated small group exaggerating dangers and going door to door. The hypothetical risk of a rail derailment, which then ends up affecting their property. and the relative difference in noise disturbance is about the same in this neighborhood as from planes landing at Bob Hope, or taking off from Van Nuys, but they've not asked the City of LA to shut those down (yet?), that I know of????
Yes, many of these people would be quite happy with a sound/privacy wall, but as long as MTA staff are involved I am prepared to be less than impressed, with the likelihood of much progress, especially since this list of more dubious MTA politicians have decided to pander to this noisy fearmongering group of Neighborhood Council political wannabee's. MTA's failure makes the case as to why Regional Services and Systems need dedicated regional system funding, so as not to be held hostage to the whims of those pandering to parochial City of LA politics, at the too LA City dominated, MTA.
