From: Kent, Lena L [mailto:[email protected]]

Director Public Affairs

909-386-4140      909-386-4170 Fax

Tuesday, June 13, 2006 3:52 PM

Subject: BNSF Feedback - Locomotive Whistles / Engine Noise

Unfortunately San Diego is in a very bad position. There is a new Federal Regulation out that requires engineers to blow 15 seconds before each crossing. Two longs, a short and then another long. Engineers have been informed that they will be decertified for not following this mandated regulation. I challenge you to stop reading for a moment and time 15 seconds which you can be a long time when you are blowing a whistle. The second issue is there are eleven crossings in Downtown all closer than 15 seconds so it may sound like one long whistle.

Unfortunately your city had an opportunity to put in a pilot quiet zone about five years ago. They elected to turn it down and wait for the FRA to issue their final rules. The FRA finally issued their final rules requiring us to blow 15-20 seconds before each crossing and also gave communities like yours the opportunity to apply for a quiet zone.

I understand your city is working towards establishing one and BNSF is cooperating just as we did five years ago. I still have a very thick file from that time frame to prove our cooperation and our willingness to see San Diego establish a whistle free zone.

In the meantime, I would encourage you to contact your representatives to continue to move forward with your quiet zone.

Lena

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Note:  see related comments on Horn Blowing