EXCERPTS FROM THE MENLO PARK NOISE ELEMENT OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
prepared by
CHARLES H. SALTER ASSOC., S.F.

TRAINS THE HIGHEST MAXIMUM NOISE LEVELS IN THE CITY OF MENLO PARK ARE
GENERATED BY TRAINS...

"TO REDUCE TRAIN NOISE THE CITY SHOULD;..FIND WAYS TO REDUCE THEIR
TRAFFIC BETWEEN 10 pm and 7 am":

"THE WARNING HORNS USED BY THE TRAINS AT AT-GRADE CROSSINGS ARE REQUIRED
BY LAW. ONE METHOD THAT WOULD OF COURSE ELIMINATE THIS NOISE SOURCE
WOULD BE TO ELIMINATE AT-GRADE CROSSINGS. WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY ARISES
TO EVALUATE THE ELIMINATION OF AN AT-GRADE CROSSING THE CITY SHOULD
CONSIDER THE BENEFITS OF REDUCED NOISE EMISSION."
              * * *
NOTE; SINCE ITS ADOPTION: THE TRAINS HAVE INCREASED TO ALMOST DOUBLE -
THERE ARE HEAVIER LOCOMOTIVES, LOUDER HORN BLASTS - SERVICE HAS BEEN
EXTENDED INTO THE NIGHT AND START AGAIN AT 5 a.m. FREIGHTS THUNDER
THROUGH AT ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT. 4:25 a.m. TWO DAYS AGO.

24% OF RESPONDENTS TO A NOISE SURVEY (WHICH REPRESENTED ALMOST 100% OF
RAILSIDE RESIDENTS) FOUND TRAIN NOISE TO BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM THEN - IN
1979!

AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT REQUIRED BY EPA SHOWED THAT 660' FROM THE
TRACKS THE HORNS HAD A 'SEVERE' IMPACT ON TRACKSIDE RESIDENTS AND A
'SERIOUS" IMPACT' OVER 1000' AWAY.

CALTRAIN FAILED TO PREPARE AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT WITH
MITIGATION BEFORE INCREASING THE PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARDS OF THE "EXTREME
MAKE-OVER' AND ADDED BABY BULLET TRAIN SERVICE.

WITHOUT AN E.I.R. THERE SHOULD BE NO FURTHER HOUSING UNITS PLACED CLOSE
TO THIS HEAVY RAIL AND FREIGHT SERVICE. THERE SHOULD BE NO FURTHER
INCREASE IN TRAIN TRAFFIC. IN FACT, IT SHOULD BE REDUCED.

MITIGATION FOR HOUSING ALREADY EXISTING SHOULD BE BEGUN IMMEDIATELY TO
BRING SOME RELIEF TO THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS. WE NEED A RESOLUTION TO
ACHIEVE ABATEMENT OF THE NOISE HAZARDS.

SUPPLEMENTARY SAFETY MEASURES, SUCH AS 4-QUADRANT GATES, MEDIANS, ETC.
AT THE R.R. CROSSINGS MAY QUALIFY TO ESTABLISH 'QUIET ZONES' TO
ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR CONSIDERABLE HORN BLASTS WHICH ARE INJURIOUS TO
THOSE NEAR THE TRACKS, INCLUDING RESIDENTS AND PASSENGERS.

TO MANY MINDS, UNTIL THE REGIONAL RAIL PLAN IS MADE PUBLIC IN JULY '07,
A RESOLUTION TO USE URGENTLY NEEDED FUNDS FOR OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS ON
SCHEDULING WOULD BE ILL-TIMED AND AN EXPENSIVE EXERCISE IN FUTILITY
UNLESS IT RESULTS IN REDUCED SERVICE AS OUTLINED BY THE ACOUSTICAL
EXPERTS.

Citizens for Noise Abatement - APRIL IS NOISE ABATEMENT MONTH. see
attached.

attached mail follows:

http://www.lhh.org/noise/index.html
Received on Wed Apr 4 16:05:44 2007