Oak Forest Quiet Zone

ItsLauren · Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 1:13 pm Post subject: Oak Forest Quiet Zone

A new campaign is underway to establish Train Quiet Zones in the Oak Forest/Garden Oaks area. For more information about this campaign, please visit:
www.gardenoaksquietzone.com

jon dogg · Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 204 Location: The hood!

I don't mind the horn blowing!

They are not tooting their horns for fun!
Do you know what a train can do to an 18 wheeler crossing the intersection/tracks? A car or SUV?

It makes an ugly mess! Sad

houstonmat · Joined: 07 Aug 2008 Posts: 123 Location: Martin Rd

Email sent! Maybe next time I hear trains in my sleep, it won't actually be trains...
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Section 3...barely!

ItsLauren · Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 3:36 pm Post subject:

Please note that this is not mine nor Oak Forest's website. I'm just passing this info along to interested parties. I know there was MUCH discussion on this topic many months back, and a lot of OF residents interested in a campaign like this. Someone in Garden Oaks has taken the initiative.

indahood · Joined: 27 Aug 2007 Posts: 184

Cool! Thanks Lauren!
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Sect. 2

ADub · Joined: 12 Jan 2006 Posts: 300 Location: Oak Forest

shepforester · Joined: 05 Jan 2009 Posts: 16 Location: Houston TX

[quote="jon dogg"]I don't mind the horn blowing!

They are not tooting their horns for fun!
Do you know what a train can do to an 18 wheeler crossing the intersection/tracks? A car or SUV?

It makes an ugly mess! :([/quote]

A community must qualify for a Quiet Zone and get approval from the Federal Railroad Administration. In order to get approval, Supplemental Safety Measures (SSMs) must be installed at most, if not all, train crossings in the Quiet Zone. The risk index at crossings in a Quiet Zone must be at or lower than the risk index that existed before the Quiet Zone. In other words, safety is not an issue because additional gates, signs, medians etc are installed at crossings within a Quiet Zone. Establishing a Quiet Zone is not as easy as telling train companies to not sound the horn in a certain area. The West U/Bellaire Quiet Zone took years to get done and cost close to $300,000. Please read more about Quiet Zones at http://www.gardenoaksquietzone.com/index-1.html.

The Garden Oaks Quiet Zone will improve the quality of life and improve property values for several neighborhoods in our area. Please contact the mayor in support of the Garden Oaks Quiet Zone. Thank you.

Jon · Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 139 Location: 43rd

We need light pollution control too. My neighbor's "security light" lights up my yard at night like it's Delmar Stadium...

ItsLauren · Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 11:59 am Post subject:

Oh gah, tell me about it. I don't think ppl are aware that their crazy security lights (esp backyard!) are coming into their neighbors 'windows. I had to get blackout curtains b/c of my neighbor.

Boomer · Joined: 23 Feb 2007 Posts: 40

Have you folks approached your neighbors about the lights? We have security lights on our house. We direct towards our property and away from the neighbors but sometimes they get moved when replacing a bulb. I approached my neighbors and told them that if the light is shining into their yard/window, just tell me and we will move the direction.

ItsLauren · Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 3:21 pm Post subject:

It's happened at both houses I've lived in. The first neighbors were behind me, and no matter how many times I spoke to them about it, they would always move it back a few days later. Annoying.

Currently, our neighbors' light is not even pointing toward our house, but it's no more than 5 feet from my window, so the ridiculous wattage is coming through even though it's not directly aimed at me. Oh well. I solved it my own way. I have to think that perhaps them having their ridiculously bright light on so close to my house will prevent crime at mine, too.

Jon · Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 139 Location: 43rd

Our neighbor has a street light fixture hung up in the trees at almost streetlight height. It stays on all night. It lights 2 houses beyond their fenceline on all sides. Talking won't work in my case.

At least I rarely have to use my back porch light. Cool

Boomer · Joined: 23 Feb 2007 Posts: 40

All I want for Christmas is an official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model BB rifle with a compass in the stock...

humidhockey · Joined: 18 Aug 2008 Posts: 56 Location: Section 2

Actually I swear sometimes they ARE "tooting their horns for fun." You can't tell me the literally 25 second long blast from the train horn is for strictly for safety. An engineer is up at 3am and figures us lazy clock punchers should be, too.

It's human nature, I guess. Misery loves company.
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"Can't we all get along?"
--Rodney King

Terri R · Joined: 29 Jun 2006 Posts: 283 Location: Sec 6

I agree, they've been especially long-winded recently!