Shhh! Stop trains from hurting business
I own a recreational vehicle park in Chowchilla. Across the street is the Union Pacific railroad, which has caused my business a great deal of suffering, along with the residents of Chowchilla.
We have received bad reviews on my business about how loud the train horns blow and I have experienced numerous times when the locomotive operators blow the horn excessively. It literally is enough to make you jump, especially when you’re outside. I invite any Union Pacific executive or manager to stand outside my RV park while the trains pass and that horn blows.
Federal law states that the horn must be sounded at certain decibels. However, I believe the entire community along with my business would greatly benefit if a quiet zone was established in this area.
It’s not the sound of the locomotives that bothers my guests, but rather the sound of the horn. I read about applying for a federally mandated quiet zone and found the process to be overwhelming.
Perhaps Union Pacific could start to operate their trains now as if the quiet zone were already established, and our community would get a good night’s sleep and allow this veteran-owned business to succeed.
Kevin T. Kirk, Fresno
This story was originally published December 14, 2015 at 7:31 AM with the headline "Shhh! Stop trains from hurting business."