The sun is shining, the wind is blowing, and spring is here. If you like to sleep with your windows open this time of year, you might notice an “added attraction” in Gilbert. Union Pacific loves to send their little choo choos through town at all hours of the day and night. For the past two years, I’ve been involved in a campaign to silence the train horns. No luck so far in Gilbert, although I know that both Tempe and Chandler established quiet zones at several crossings last year. A horn is posted at the crossing only, rather than the train blowing away (three short, one long, per crossing) starting a half-mile down the track. Not an issue? It does have an impact on the quality of life in Gilbert, and has an economic impact on residential property values. Perhaps this will be the year that Gilbert can move out of the stone age and plan for the future. We leave the more advanced projects, like light rail, to progressive cities like Mesa.
Raymond Lambert
Gilbert
commonsenseaintcommon posted at 12:35 pm on Wed, Mar 28, 2012.
Gee Ray didn't you know the track complete with trains were there before you bought your house? You sound just like the rest of the imports who move to Arizona and then try to change it because "that's not how it is back home." Here is a solution, move back home.
Masterrogue666 posted at 1:08 pm on Wed, Mar 28, 2012.
@Raymond Lambert: You sound like those people that move into a house close to ANY SIZE airport, then complain about the noise from the airport. Before you bought your house, did you bother to check the surrounding area for things that may be a "deal breaker"? ANY house I buy, I check the maps for "deal breakers" like those already mentioned, farms (smell), etc; crime in that area; and ease of access just to name a few things.
You are an adult. Do your homework. Do complain about something that was there YEARS (decades) before the house was built and you moved in....
Masterrogue666 posted at 1:10 pm on Wed, Mar 28, 2012.
Of course, you could buy expensive windows that would cut down on the noise, and have other sound damping devices installed! [wink]
Masterrogue666 posted at 1:11 pm on Wed, Mar 28, 2012.
Dang typos: Do complain changed to Do NOT complain*
Slabside posted at 4:48 pm on Wed, Mar 28, 2012.
Say Ray, ever hear of earplugs?
Dale Whiting posted at 8:15 am on Sat, Mar 31, 2012.
Ray,
The railroad got there first. Gilbert was founded on growing and shipping hay "by rail" to distant locations. Union Pacific bought out the original railroad company and still uses those tracks to bring cargo into and out of Phoenix. But fortunately for you Gilbert residents, who technically came to this nuissance and hence legally cannot complain, most of the freight into and out of Arizona goes through south of Casa Grande. So you have nothing to legally complain about other than your having chosen to become Gilbert residents.
Now there is one interesting exception. Years ago when Dell Webb extended Sun City south toward Glendale, they sold some houses on spec in the late winter to winter visitors who had decided to move in the next fall. When they returned, our winter valley temperature inversions meant that the oders from nearby livestock yards hung in the mist of those early morning hours. The home owners had the good sense to sue Dell Webb, not just the stockyards. The stockyards voluntarily shut down and Dell Webb paid to have them relocate. The AZ legislature in its infinate wisdom just having placed a head tax on feeder cattle, Dell Webb got to pay for that relocation to New Mexico. No head tax in NM. And Gilbert hay ships to NM just fine! Using the RxR, the cost is just about the same as hauling it by truck across Phoenix.
Yes, folks, the AZ legislature has been doing stupid things for generations now!