Federal Railroad Administration
response to resident complaints regarding the BNSF train horn
incident of March 4, 2007, at 3:20 a.m. in downtown San Diego
 
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2007 7:23 AM
To: John Anderson
Cc: [email protected] ; [email protected]
Subject: San Diego BNSF March 4 incident
 
Hi John,
I have investigated the train horn incident of Sunday, March 4, 2007 at 3:20am.  I reviewed the video posted on www.quietzonesd.info: and I spoke to BNSF operations management.
 
In the horn recording on the website I can detect a pattern. It is difficult to hear, but it is there.  I believe the microphone also picked up the echoes of the horn off buildings resulting in a recording of what seems to be a series of several single long continues blasts.
BNSF management reviewed the locomotive event recorder and determined that the engineer sounded the horn appropriate pattern.  They also interviewed the locomotive engineer and he advised them there were several people trespassing in the area and he prolonged the horn pattern to warn them to get off the tracks. 
 
In the downtown area, there are 13 crossings within two miles. The rule provides that an engineer can vary the pattern between closely spaced crossings.
 
Section 222.21 (a) ...Sounding of the locomotive horn with two long blasts, one short blast and one long blast shall be initiated at a location so as to be in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section and shall be repeated or prolonged until the locomotive occupies the crossing. This pattern may be varied as necessary where crossings are spaced closely together.
 
Also, the rule provides for use of the horn in emergency situations. When people are on or near the tracks, an engineer may sound the horn to alert them to the presence of the train.
 
Section 222.23(a)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, a locomotive engineer may sound the locomotive horn to provide a warning to animals, vehicle operators, pedestrians, trespassers or crews on other trains in an emergency situation if, in the locomotive engineer's sole judgment, such action is appropriate in order to prevent imminent injury, death, or property damage.
This seems to be an isolated incident.  I have not seen any email alerts on this type of issue for a few weeks. 
I hope this information is useful. 
 
Please let me know if you have additional questions or concerns.
 
Thank you. 
LeeAnn
LeeAnn Dickson
Federal Railroad Administration
916-773-0253

Response to LeeAnn Dickson

From: "Pat McArron" <[email protected]>
Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2007 10:35:25
To:"LeeAnn Dickson" <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: San Diego BNSF March 4 incident
 
Attn: LeeAnn Dickson
Federal Railroad Administration
916-773-0253
 
Dear LeeAnn,
 
Thank you for taking the time to review the Train Horn blast incident of March 4 in Downtown San Diego.
 
In future correspondence regarding Train Horns you need not remind us of the FRA regulations.  By now we are all very aware of the regulations.
 
While you say the "engineer sounded the horn appropriate pattern" we who heard it first hand would respectfully have to disagree.  If it is true that the engineer was attempting to warn pedestrians to get out of the way - the engineer not only succeeded in that regard but also succeeded in arousing everyone else within miles (and yes I do mean miles).  As I have stated before, the decibel level of the train horns is excessively loud when traveling through urban areas such as San Diego.
 
We in San Diego are just as concerned about safety as the FRA.  We are also aware that the FRA regulations regarding train horns is inadequate insofar as there is currently a "one policy fits all" approach.
 
It is my sincere hope that you in particular and the FRA in general will pursue future improvements to the FRA regulations that take into consideration the need to lower the decibel levels of train horns as they pass through urban areas such as San Diego.  The whole purpose, as I understand it, for using a train horn is to alert people that a train is approaching and the tracks must be cleared for safe passage.  Having said that - I would ask that you and everyone at the FRA understand that in an urban setting it is not necessary to alert people literally for miles that a train is approaching.  Common sense would dictate that a train sounding a horn to alert people within blocks of the train in Downtown San Diego does not also need to be heard as far away as Point Loma & Coronado.
 
Since it is a given that cities like San Diego are attempting to revitalize their Downtown districts by attracting more residents to live in Downtown areas - I think it is incumbent upon the FRA to take a fresh look at the decibel levels of train horns as they relate to cities.  There are any number of solutions which I hope the FRA will consider.
 
The creation of Railroad Quiet Zones is a step in the right direction but should only be seen as a step.
 
LeeAnn you commented that the incident of March 4 ".. seems to be an isolated incident.  I have not seen any email alerts on this type of issue for a few weeks."  Please be assured that the only reason you do not receive more email alerts is because people have given up in some cases and have lost hope in the credibility of the FRA to take us seriously on this quality of life issue. There is a very high level of frustration with the FRA. 
 
Let me repeat - we are just as concerned about safety as the FRA.  We also know that the FRA train horn rules need further fine tuning and that the current very high decibel levels of train horns in the city are unnecessary. 
 
I look forward to your interest and support for our concerns as well as that of the FRA.  There is an opportunity here for the FRA to make a difference regarding not only safety but also the quality of life as it pertains to urban renewal in the vicinity of the railroads.
 
Sincerely,
Patrick McArron,
www.quietzonesd.info
 
cc:  Downtown San Diego residents