Tom Reta: Train whistles, sirens make Merced noisest city around

The City of Merced at one time was called “Tree City U.S.A.” Today it can be called “Noisiest City U.S.A.,” with two railroads passing through town along with ambulances and other emegency vehicles going 24/7. Our city is truly the noisiest around. The sirens perhaps are unavoidable, but there is a solution to the 24-hour train horns. The internet tells us all about train horn rules together with methods of establishing so-called “quiet zones.” If our city leaders can’t follow up on the solution for stopping the horn blowing, maybe the professors at UC could take up the task as a favor returned for Merced’s support of the university. A recent letter to Mayor Stan Thurston on this subject received no reply.

This story was originally published October 26, 2015 at 1:14 PM with the headline "Tom Reta: Train whistles, sirens make Merced noisest city around."