Ad hoc committees effective

Dear Editor:

Concerned citizens packed the City Council chambers to overflow for the June 23 meeting of Traffic and Transportation Commission. The subject of the meeting was Metrolink train horns and the federal requirements for establishing the corridor through Claremont as a quiet zone.

In a quiet zone, trains are prohibited from sounding horns except in emergency situations. No less than 40 Metrolink trains pass through Claremont every weekday, from early mornings to late at night, with horns blaring at every crossing, often at decibel levels that would require hearing protection in workplace situations.

Numerous citizens addressed the commission and Metrolink representatives, describing the extremely negative impact the train horns have on their lives.

I, for one, was encouraged to find that the commission members already recognized this as a serious problem and believe it is important to take the steps necessary to quiet the horns on the trains that pass through our community. A major obstacle to making this happen is money.

An ad hoc committee was appointed to craft a common-sense solution to the police facility issue after a $50 million proposal was rejected by voters. It appears that the committee met expectations, as was reported in the July 1 COURIER. I encourage the city council to direct the TTC to appoint another citizen ad hoc committee, this one to craft a solution to the train horn problem.

Jack Sultze

Claremont

The happiest place on Earth?

Dear Editor:

More museums, more attractions, more townhouses, more razzmatazz so that more people will come so we can have more traffic, more crime, more parking problems, more pollution and more noise.

Some folks in town seem to think that “more is better.” I don’t. We have had many fine attractions here already. Big and Little Bridges, Garrison, Padua, The Greek theater to name a few. We have had many famous artists living, working, showing and teaching here. Claremont was something. We had no townhouses, no liquor and no razzmatazz.

Is Claremont turning into a little Disneyland? A nice place to visit, but I would not want to live there.

John Schwartz

Claremont

Dangerous crossing

Dear Editor:

My stompin’ ground changed a little over a year ago, so driving on Foothill approaching Mills Avenue, I was totally shocked to discover that no change had yet been made in the crosswalk traffic light.

It has been one full year since a near fatal accident occurred at this intersection. The victim has not yet fully recovered and this accident changed the professional life irreparably, not to mention, life in general.

This was not the first of its kind. For the 40 years I have lived here, this intersection has been known as a dangerous crossing. College students and professors cross several times a day. It is a regular occurrence for residents in the block north of this corner to see police cars, knocked-down bicyclists or an injured pedestrian sitting or lying at the curb, being attended to by someone.

The danger at this corner has been brought to the attention of authorities over the years. Whose life will be sacrificed before this is made into a protected crossing?

I am not an electrician but I feel sure that changing the timing so that no traffic is moving during a crossing or erecting a “no right turn” sign for traffic traveling west on Foothill to turn north on to Mills Avenue would finally prevent similar accidents.

Please take this to heart. From a concerned 58-year resident.

Marjorie Marth

Claremont