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TUALATIN — Let’s face it. Train noise from TriMet’s WES has the potential to be a problem for the city of Tualatin. But right now the prospective funding to mitigate that problem isn’t good.
Councilor Jay Harris left a work session meeting in October with the sentiment “the project is dead.”
He was angered by the majority of the council’s refusal to back an analysis of a possible gas tax in Tualatin to help pay for the $1.5 million to $2 million projects associated with establishing quiet zones in the city.
Councilors did favor looking into the creation of a Local Improvement District to fund the projects.
But even that idea seemed questionable. City attorney Brenda Braden noted that to do a citywide LID the officials would need to show that the entire city would benefit from the tracks being a quiet zone and not just the nearby neighborhoods.
“We have to show that each property benefits,” Braden said.
That hit a sour note with councilor-elect Joelle Davis who noted that residents in north Tualatin likely wouldn’t buy into a district that quiets the north-south running train tracks but not the other west-east train tracks.
The city earmarked $85,000 for train noise mitigation this fiscal year, and everyone admitted that amount is just a drop in the bucket.
Recent updates to the Federal Railroad Administration’s railroad crossing quiet zone calculator has given city officials a new perspective on what to expect for quiet zone projects — the $1.5 to $2 million project range are not definite price tags.
While council discussion touched on specific intersections and quiet zone projects, the group hit a roadblock when it came to funding.
McKillip noted that even with FRA approval the city is at least two years away from establishing and implementing a quiet zone.
City officials have spent the last year discussing potential noise issues from TriMet’s Westside Express Service — the $117.3 million 14.7-mile commuter rail line running from Beaverton to Wilsonville. TriMet officials have said the agency will not help fund noise mitigation projects.
The Portland & Western train tracks cut right through the heart of Tualatin and wind through the backyards of a few neighborhoods.
Council President Ed Truax expressed his concerns about sacrificing safety for silence in pursuing quiet zones in the city.
“I would like to see this be a safe project,” said Truax.
BC, you ought to do some research at TriMet's web site. If you live along the route, there will be about 12 trains passing your house from about 5:30am until 8:30am and then again from 4:30pm until 6;30pm. On a line that runs about 3 or 4 trains a day currently this is about a 600% increase (plus the existing rail traffic must move to hours WES isn't operating). This noise problem has been public knowledge since the earliest studies but TriMet, Washington County and cities along the line chose to ignore it in search of "free money" from Washington. During the time this was known about Tualatin has spent $200,000 on the Tualatin Tomorrow document and over $100,000 on the pressure group backed Park-Rec Center Bond (voted down 2-1 after a highly paid polling firm told them to go for it). The difference here is that both of these items were "wants", while mitigating the huge increase in noise pollution will be a "need" if existing citizens and businesses want to have liveable space(hope that you don't live in a condo near the lake). Focus is a matter of doing "needs" first and "wants" second, something Tualatin's Council has long forgotten. Ask yourself whether a bond issue for traffic and street improvements would have been better than one for a rec center that duplicated facilities we have at schools and private clubs?
(email verified)
Thu, Nov 13, 2008 at 03:34 PM
... and .... all of the TriMet funds for this boondoggle would have been better spent on additional buses (and improved bus routes). Not as sexy, but certainly a lot more practical.
(email verified)
Fri, Nov 14, 2008 at 02:21 PM
I don't quite understand all the hullabaloo about train noise. I have train tracks in my backyard and honestly, I don't even notice the trains rolling through at night. I moved into the play I live in knowing about the trains and that they produce noise.
And about creating a gas tax for pay for these "buffers"--I don't think it is fair to make everyone pay for these "quiet" zones when it is not going to benefit the community as a whole.
I think this is great that there is a way for people to commute that doesn't involve another vehicle (car or bus)on the road. Plus the train will only be running during the week and only at certain hours. So what's the problem? How is the noise any different from the traffic on Tualatin-Sherwood or the roaring of I-5 in the morning?
(email verified)
Wed, Nov 19, 2008 at 11:53 AM
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Re: Tualatin struggles to find train noise mitigation funds
When the train tracks were laid, there were no neighborhoods there. If train noise will bother you, buying a house next to the tracks is silly. Could it have been a mistake to approve the building permits for those homes, or were the developers and city too busy seeing dollar signs?
Worst case, how many train trips through these neighborhoods are there a week? Once WES is up and running, how many a day? There will be none in the wee hours of the night, right? If you want to do something about noise, go after those idiots who modify their mufflers. Why aren't they ticketed for noise polution?
"BC"
(email verified)
Thu, Nov 13, 2008 at 02:46 PM