Glen,

Thank you for your email. Yes, I'm aware that the Caltrain horn noise has been a huge issue in our city and I have seen many stories and posts on the Internet about it. I also understand that the City does not have jurisdiction over Caltrain and that the federal government governs the rail system. But when I see stories in the newspaper (very recently) that say the horns HAVE been put back to "normal" and I KNOW that they have not, then I will speak up.

I appreciate that the City is attending the Caltrain board meetings re: the excessive horn noise problem. The City needs to keep the pressure on Caltrain to lower the horns back to down under the trains AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, and return the horn blasts to the lower (more bass) sounding blasts rather than the awful high pitched shrill. Please get them to commit to a timely timeline that addresses this problem. Caltrain also needs to keep pressure on the federal regulators.The regulations as written might be fine if you're out in the middle of nowhere, but are completely inappropriate for densely populated areas. If anything, the excessive horn noise is enough to drive people crazy enough to want to jump out in front of the trains! I doubt that the louder horns will decrease the suicides that have been occurring if that is the goal of this recent horn change.

I realize I'm just one more person in Menlo Park who has probably complained, but it is the "squeaky wheel that gets the grease." I not only live in this City (for going on 20 years), but I also work from home so I hear this noise 24/7. I hope that my complaint will add a little more fuel to the fire to let the Caltrain Board and the federal regulators know that their regulations need revamping -- they are not appropriate nor acceptable to residents in Menlo Park. The overly loud and too frequent of Caltrain horn blasts are excessive noise pollution. It needs to change.

Regards,
Bernadette Callahan
Public Relations Consultant

On Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 11:28 AM, Rojas, Glen <grojas_at_menlopark.org> wrote:

> *Bernadette Callahan*
>
> *The City of Menlo Park has been in contact with Caltrain regarding the
> noise issue. Staff has attended Caltrain board meetings to express our
> concern with the noise as well as contacting the appropriate staff
> directly. The City does not have any jurisdiction over Caltrain but we have
> kept them informed of our residents concerns even after they made the
> initial changes to the horns. Caltrain assures us that they are working on
> moving the horns back to the lower level of the units (trains) but it will
> be a long term project (no timeline was provided yet). The federal govt.
> governs the rail system and Caltrain has to adhere to these regulations.
> *
>
> * *
>
> *We will continue to represent our residents on this issue. *
>
> * *
>
> *Caltrain *
>
> * *
> ------------------------------
>
> *From:* love2cycle_at_gmail.com [mailto:love2cycle_at_gmail.com] *On Behalf Of *
> Bernadette
> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 09, 2009 1:04 PM
> *To:* _CCIN
> *Subject:* CalTrain Horns are NOT back to Normal from a Concerned Resident
> of Menlo Park
>
>
>
> Dear Menlo Park City Council Members:
>
> I have lived in Menlo Park nearly 20 years (2 blocks West of Draegers) and
> the horn noise is still EXCESSIVELY loud and has a much higher shrill than
> it used to.
>
> Please contact Caltrain and the Federal regulating body and let them know
> that Menlo Park residents are still outraged over the excessive noise
> pollution, rattled nerves, and LOSS of SLEEP that we are being subjected to.
>
> How could they DARE to say that the horn noise has been brought back to
> normal levels. THAT is a complete lie.
>
> If you care anything about the residents of this city, you will take action
> and contact Caltrain and the Feds to let them know they are WRONG in
> thinking everything is back to normal. If they think it is back to normal,
> then those who SAY it is should come to Menlo Park, especially between 12
> midnite through rush hour the next morning, and listen to the horns. The
> horns wake me up when I am trying to go to sleep and throughout the night.
> They also wake me up before I normally rise in the morning. The noise is
> unbearably loud and excessive.
>
> Come on...
> Please do something MORE.
>
> Sleepless in Menlo Park,
> Bernadette Callahan
>
Received on Fri Sep 11 2009 - 12:46:23 PDT