Posted by John Craft on August 27, 2003 at 11:43:55:
In Reply to: Antiseptic imbecility continues posted by NathBDP on August 22, 2003 at 10:48:21:
Dear NathBDP,
You are obviously overlooking the fact that as local business people we RELY on the rail road to bring people to this area in an efficient cost effective manner. As a year round (third generation) Montauk resident I also believe the train helps alleviate traffic congestion on the roads, which are already pushed to their limits. However, there is NO EXCUSE for the level of waste and pollution being generated by the LIRR at their Montauk Station. The locomotive manufacturers own web site has a page on it which describes a completely automated system designed to start & stop the locomotives AUTOMATICALLY to keep the at optimal performance levels WHILE SAVING AN ESTIMATED 5400 TO 7200 GALLONS of diesel PER YEAR… PER LOCOMOTIVE. If you want to talk about the railroads losing money, let’s start there. Not to mention the levels of pollution that are generated by the burning of all that wasted diesel fuel.
Furthermore, I operate a business in which I must travel to NYC a couple of times a week. Imagine my surprise when I was handed a flyer entering the Hunt’s Point Produce Market which outlined a new law that banned idling my trucks engine for more than 3 minutes, or I’d face a $15,000 fine. But the LIRR can idle 10 or 12, 3000 HP diesel engines all day long and all night long as they see fit?!?!?!? That is "imbecility"!
The noise pollution subsequently generated by this non-stop idling of the locomotives parked at the Montauk Station is without question the single worst case of a business creating unacceptably high levels of sound (which violate local sound ordinances). Earlier this summer I was reading in the paper week after week how there was a crack down on bars & night clubs BECAUSE THEIR MUSIC WAS TOO LOUD & could be heard at the motel next door! Please GIVE ME A BREAK! What about the LIRR… there was not even a single mention of the continuous low frequency rumble which can be HEARD FOR MILES from the train station, not to mention the Montauk Manor, which has suffered horribly for years and lost a lot of business as a result of this noise pollution. Small business were being fined for creating a FRACTION of the noise the idling locomotive engines create. That is "imbecility"!
The fact is, given these glaring inequities, something needed to be done about the noise pollution created by the LIRR. A simple petition started just a few months ago has gotten so much support that we have members and volunteers eager continue working as long and as hard as necessary to get the LIRR to discontinue its wasteful and pollution causing practices & provide us with a written policy to that effect.
In the mean time, if you like the noise of idling deisel locomotives so much I suggest you move to Rough Riders Landing, the Montauk Manor or even somewhere on Industrial Road. Or, if that is too inconvenient... we would be happy to mail you a CD of the train noise you can play on your home stereo system, then you could enjoy that "soothing & relaxing" sound of an idling 3000HP deisel locomotive engine in the privacy of your own home 24 hours a day 7 days a week (just don't turn your stereo up too loud after 7pm, or your going to get a ticket for violating the noise ordinances.)