Residents expect to be heard on train whistles

[Joe Foe from Buffalo]

We could use some help on a meeting local residents are having with the FRA,CSX and Norfolk Southern. If you have info,support,legal council,ways to gain support of others that have the same concerns.. or other join us at this meeting or contact me or us at least.
This is some details on what I'm talking about.
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060126/1072551.asp

Residents expect to be heard on train whistles
By BARBARA O'BRIEN
News Staff Reporter
1/26/2006
Hamburg residents might be making some noise of their own about the
loud train whistles at a meeting March 1 with the Federal Railroad
Administration and railroad officials.
The long-hoped-for meeting has been scheduled for 7 p.m. at the
Frontier Middle School, Sen. Charles E. Schumer announced Wednesday.
"Bringing everyone to the table is the first step, but it's an
important one," Schumer said in a news release. "This community
needs to be heard, and deserves rail crossings that are both safe
and quiet. The FRA and CSX have now stepped up to the plate to work
with us and together we can move this forward."
Officials of CSX Corp. have agreed to come to Hamburg for the
meeting, and Norfolk Southern Railroad also hopes to send a company
representative, according to Schumer's office.
Hamburg wants to create "quiet zone" crossings with extra safety
measures that would allow a train to pass through the intersection
without blowing its horn. There are 100 trains a day traveling 12
miles through Hamburg, crossing local and county roads at seven
crossings.
"The noise is deafening in the summer," said James Downey of
Christopher Boulevard, one of an estimated 20,000 residents who can
hear the train whistles. "You need to stop your conversation if
you're outside."
He said he's planning to attend the meeting and hopes the town will
be able to receive state and federal funding to make the changes to
the crossings. They are estimated to cost $15,000 per crossing.
Councilwoman Kathy Hochul said without the senator's help, the
meeting would not have been scheduled.
"I think it makes all the difference in the world," she said about
Schumer's involvement. "We also feel there will be significant
follow-up by his staff."
The town has done some preliminary estimates of what types of
improvements need to be made, and is looking for clarification from
the federal agency on the new regulations governing safety at
railroad crossings in quiet zones.
"I'm hoping we will become a model on how to do this," Hochul said.

[FJB]

If you don't like the wistles then move away from the tracks!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Joe Foe from Buffalo]

Gee, We never would have thought of that.:rolleyes: Thank you.
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060302/1042923.asp
TOWN OF HAMBURG
Railroads object to 'quiet zone'
By TOM ERNST
News Staff Reporter
3/2/2006

Railroads have raised safety issues over new federal regulations allowing quiet zones like the one Hamburg hopes to establish.
Many of the more than 100 people who turned out for Wednesday night's discussion in Frontier Middle School had unkind things to say about the railroads. They also complained that train engineers seem to enjoy sounding the horns more often and longer than necessary - especially late at night.

Railroad officials promised to look into the complaints, but called horns essential for safety. They also voiced reservations about silencing them.

"We have some real concerns about the safety aspect," said Maurice J. O'Connell, CSX vice president of public affairs. "Train horns have been around for a long time and have been effective. We don't really know about quiet zones."

Michael R. Fesen, who holds a similar position with Norfolk Southern, said a 10,000-ton locomotive can be surprisingly quiet, "and people do all kinds of things to try to beat trains" at crossings.

He asked the town to consider "wayside horns," which are mounted at the crossing and not heard by as many people.

New federal rules allow municipalities to establish quiet zones if safety improvements are made at crossings.

The cheapest alternative and the one Hamburg is pursuing involves installing medians in roadways for 100 feet or more on each side of a crossing, making it difficult for vehicles to get around lowered gates.

The town is seeking federal funds to cover the cost, estimated at $100,000 for six crossings.

Wayside horns would cost $40,000 per crossing, or $240,000 for six.

Mark H. McKeon, regional administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, said the town seems to be taking the proper steps.

Residents all favored the quiet zone and took advantage of the opportunity to unload on the railroads.

The horns seem to be getting longer and louder, sometimes starting at one end of town and blowing continuously, Joe Kilian of Lake View complained. "It borders on harassment."

Railroad officials said trains are required to sound their horns as they approach crossings day and night; engineers also must use their horns if they see anything on the tracks.

But Jack Agnew of Durham Road said he has found nothing on the tracks when he as gone out to investigate why a train was blowing its horn. "They're not doing it because it's required," he said.

Several residents also complained that they have gotten nothing but a runaround when calling the 1-800 number posted on crossings to report malfunctions.

O'Connell, who said about 50 CSX trains a day pass through Hamburg, promised to work with the town on a phone number that residents can call with complaints.


e-mail: ternst@buffnews.com

[LaNdReW]

We could use some help on a meeting local residents are having with the FRA,CSX and Norfolk Southern. If you have info,support,legal council,ways to gain support of others that have the same concerns.. or other join us at this meeting or contact me or us at least.
This is some details on what I'm talking about.
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060126/1072551.asp

Residents expect to be heard on train whistles
By BARBARA O'BRIEN
News Staff Reporter
1/26/2006
Hamburg residents might be making some noise of their own about the
loud train whistles at a meeting March 1 with the Federal Railroad
Administration and railroad officials.
The long-hoped-for meeting has been scheduled for 7 p.m. at the
Frontier Middle School, Sen. Charles E. Schumer announced Wednesday.
"Bringing everyone to the table is the first step, but it's an
important one," Schumer said in a news release. "This community
needs to be heard, and deserves rail crossings that are both safe
and quiet. The FRA and CSX have now stepped up to the plate to work
with us and together we can move this forward."
Officials of CSX Corp. have agreed to come to Hamburg for the
meeting, and Norfolk Southern Railroad also hopes to send a company
representative, according to Schumer's office.
Hamburg wants to create "quiet zone" crossings with extra safety
measures that would allow a train to pass through the intersection
without blowing its horn. There are 100 trains a day traveling 12
miles through Hamburg, crossing local and county roads at seven
crossings.
"The noise is deafening in the summer," said James Downey of
Christopher Boulevard, one of an estimated 20,000 residents who can
hear the train whistles. "You need to stop your conversation if
you're outside."
He said he's planning to attend the meeting and hopes the town will
be able to receive state and federal funding to make the changes to
the crossings. They are estimated to cost $15,000 per crossing.
Councilwoman Kathy Hochul said without the senator's help, the
meeting would not have been scheduled.
"I think it makes all the difference in the world," she said about
Schumer's involvement. "We also feel there will be significant
follow-up by his staff."
The town has done some preliminary estimates of what types of
improvements need to be made, and is looking for clarification from
the federal agency on the new regulations governing safety at
railroad crossings in quiet zones.
"I'm hoping we will become a model on how to do this," Hochul said.

I love this Crap....

The noise is deafening in the summer," said James Downey of
Christopher Boulevard, one of an estimated 20,000 residents who can
hear the train whistles. "You need to stop your conversation if
you're outside."

Let me see if I get this right....
Trains have been there forever..
A subdivision gets built "briarcliff/briarwood" sometime in the 80's or so
You move in, then bitch about the trains???

Its like moving next to the airport and complaining about the planes.

WAH-WAH.... Please do not use my tax dollars to fix your bad decision.

[Joe Foe from Buffalo]

I agree with you LaNdReW on your mention not to use tax dollars to fix what has by the way increased 10 fold in the last couple years and by the way and rules broken on what most residents are asking trains follow. If you want to learn these rules try this website.
http://www.hansonwilson.com/information.asp
Truth is the goverments will not force train companies that generate 100's a millons dollars for the econmomy do what is needed to fix this or at least make what was to be followed in laws set up over many years. Like many issues this website tries to address.