Camelia Street Blog

You may have noticed that the amount and duration of train whistles
has picked up the past few months.  One of the reasons for this is the
new federal law that went into effect June 26:

http://www.alaskarailroad.com/pdf/PROJ_2005_Wide_WhistleReduction_Facts.pdf
“Federal regulations and Alaska Railroad rules require trains
to sound their horns when approaching a public crossing and
to continue sounding the horn until the crossing is reached.
Beginning June 26, 2005, the Federal Railroad Administration
(FRA) will enforce a new rule requiring train engineers to sound
the horn at least 15-20 seconds before the crossing and to continue
sounding the horn until the crossing is reached. Given significant
consequences for not complying (monetary fines to the railroad and
suspension of train crews), train engineers have no choice but to
blow the horn as required —day and night.”

More specific info can be found on the FRA website: http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/content/1318
Related June 14, 2005 Daily Planet Article

If you would like to encourage the City of Berkeley to set aside some
money in the City’s budget for the above mentioned (see link) whistle controls,
let Council Member Linda Maio (LMaio@ci.berkeley.ca.us) know, or
shoot Sandy Simon (sandy@traxgallery.com) an email.  She’s in charge
of a petition to help lessen the impact of train whistles.
*You can put your name on the petition via email.

For those of you who are in favor of the whistles in their current form,
I do not know who to point you towards.  If I find out I will let you know.