[RP TownTalk] Fwd: Trains and Horns

[Dwight Holmes]

This isn't exactly how I recall Rob's post - maybe there was yet
another one on the topic - but it's the only one I found on the topic;
from 3 years ago, prior to the installation of the new 4-way crossing
gates.


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Rob Oppenheim <rob.oppenheim at comcast.net>
Date: Mon, Apr 16, 2007 at 4:41 AM
Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Trains and Horns
To: TownTalk <towntalk at riverdale-park.org>


I (and David Hiles before me) have been working to have the train
horns silenced.

To do so, we have to raise the safety of the crossing high enough to
have the area declared a quiet
zone. Later this year, we are scheduled to get 4-way gates installed.
This will be a giant step
forward in making the intersection safer.

The Maryland house and senate recently passed bill HB509 that will
allow us to install advanced
enforcement systems that can dramatically increase the safety of the crossing.
I lobbied hard for this bill, and I am very excited that it passed.

The town council approved adding two street lamps to the crossing, and
we are looking into
getting special train track lighting to discourage cars from turning
onto the tracks (the most
common set up to an accident). I also hope to have the sidewalks and
curbs improved.

Most importantly, I hope to get the council to appropriate funds in
next years budget to hire
a consultant that specializes in quiet zones to help us thru the maze
of regulations.

Silencing the train horns will improve the quality of life for us all,
and it will make the town center
much more attractive to prospective businesses. It may be the single
most important economic
development item we can undertake.

I know that some of you are nostalgic for the sound of the horns. Yet
many others find them
painfully loud. I hope you won't miss them too badly when their gone!
Getting them silenced
is a long and difficult project, but we made great headway on it this year.

Rob Oppenheim

Ward One Councilman, Riverdale Park