And here we go, throwing more Federal money at the project and it’s an EMERGENCY even though the trains have tooting their horns through SF for over 100 years!
While I don’t oppose creating quiet zones throughout the city (even though we know this is probably for DTSF exclusively) it is pretty obvious we have to do this because we failed to remove the RR tracks from downtown during the negotiations. While it will make DTSF safer with the crossbars, the only noise it eliminates is the sirens from the trains, you will continue to hear them barrel down the track and cause traffic interruptions.
I have NO DOUBT the Feds will probably reimburse the state, but you have to admit since we didn’t successfully remove the tracks from this area to begin with, we are just playing a game of whack a mole and this is the latest.
So far the developer in this area has received millions in improvements to the River Greenway, a significant discount on the land, multiple TIFs (to build condos) and now another $5 million to create quiet zones next to those condos.
Here’s a concept DON’T BUILD CONDOS AND APARTMENTS NEXT TO A RAILROAD TRACK, or better yet work with our Washington delegates to get the tracks torn out. Nope, let’s just keep throwing tax dollars at small bandaids that doesn’t fix the bigger problem TRAINS RUMBLING THROUGH DOWNTOWN FOR NO DAMN GOOD REASON!
Sometimes the big Wells Fargo sign downtown is not working properly, and thus, it merely says: “Fargo”. Have we not thus become that? Crossbars, really? But can three buses go to where they’re already at? Welcome to The Twilight Zone. #IsThisFargo? #WhyIsEverythingSoQuiet? #IStillCanNotHearTheHighSpeedTrains #WhoStoleMyMuffledWoodchipper?
100 years from now, when electric commuter trains are part of every day area life, those rails will be in just the right place.
The new buzzword in the South Dakota cronyist economic development circle – “workforce housing”, housing to allow the proletariat class a place to rest their head.
Housing sorely needed by the bourgeoisie in order that all the chicken restaurants in Sioux Falls can be fully staffed.
Projects which can designate some application to “workforce housing” is guaranteed to attract some sort of government incentive to the chamber of commerce cronyists (who masquerade in South Dakota not only as Republicans [in order that they can get elected], but also as “free market capitalists”).
A very popular emerging location – parcels in industrial parks (“because we know that employees [read “proletariat class”] want to live near their place of work”). See a parcel in North Sioux City, already recipient of $11 million from state coffers, as an example.
More locally, expansion of an industrial business park off Holly Blvd and adjacent to the railrod tracks will include workforce housing.
“Workforce housing”, located trackside in an industrial park.
What are the chances that rail crossings adjacent to “workforce housing” gain funding to create quiet zones?
Dell Rapids was the original railroad center on the east side of the state. Sioux Falls was a small town in the 19th century. It would seem there’s right-of-way to bypass the city. Likely, the railroad is waiting for another big payout from the city with a small handout from the Feds. ‘Condos in the yards’ could not happen because of narrow parcels and permanent easements. Nonetheless, the city has a habit of going after nonsense with public money designated for something else (ie. COVID). There’s a lot of industry (Trucking, Meat processing, etc.) associated with the railroad through Sioux Falls. Given the aristocracy, I’m all for building up Dell Rapids without Strong Mayor Charter. How about building condos there?
Absolutely! I get a big kick out of the words “workforce housing”. Workforce housing means nothing but Soviet style housing (more apartments).
They have given up on “workforce development”, however, because there are not enough workers to develop, but even with the ones they find there is not enough housing for them.
Meanwhile, they always seem to find the workers to complete the dachas in Taupeville. How fascinating, huh?
A 100 years from now, we will not need trains:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGHk6_infv4
I have no issue with the trains in this city, they are rather peaceful, very much a relief to hear them pass through the night. As a guy who has always grew up within range of the railroad, I have come to respect the trains passing by my home each night. I may live outside of Downtown, however, I love hearing them pass at night as they blow their horns, or pass by our neighborhoods. For many of us, we are very used to the trains, and love to have them in our city. I believe there is a small minority of people who want to see them gone, but most do not. They are our history, trains are what helped build this city, and we must respect that history, let alone the trains themselves. Here is to one guy who does not want to see anything changed. Having them, is a ‘stress relaxer’ for me, I love laying there at night listening for the next train. I also love camping in Garretson in the city park right next to the tracks, listening for the next train from miles away. I wish more of you only see trains in the same light as I do, and come to respect not only the asset they are to us, but the history they achieved in this town. As for the sound or noise, I think some are exxagerating, it is not as bad as some proclaim.
– Mike Zitterich
Yeah, they are so peaceful when the sirens go off at midnight, 4 am, 5 am and again at 6 am. While I don’t always agree with Shiftylicks, I do agree with shutting down the sirens. Next the AF base.
Their “Horns” are not that loud…
Mike, you are such a partisan little bitch. You will take the opposite argument on purpose just to be the opposite. I have 3 separate tracks each about 4 blocks from my home. When I am awake and sitting on the main level it doesn’t bother me, but I sleep in the basement and if I can hear them underground where it is loud enough to wake me, that’s an issue. In fact a train siren is one of the loudest urban sounds you will hear.
Whatever happen to those odd and loud sounds that people were hearing outside at any time of the day and throughout the world just a few years ago? If you remember right, before those sounds there were clown sightings for a while through out country, too. Think about it all, clowns then sounds. Perhaps, they were merely a precursor or warning of the pending Trump presidency and its noisy.
No. on this topic, I am supporting my favorite passtime, I love trains, your talking to a guy who grew up with model trains, building trainsets, and loved watching trains. My grandfather worked for the railroad here in Sioux Falls, I believe Burlington Northern at the Weber Avenue location. I grew up on 1st Avenue within inches of the railroad tracks, and loved to hear the trains pass by. The horns are not that loud, and they are quite relaxing to me as they go by. Like I said this is really not an issue to me.
I’ve always wanted to dig a tunnel from my basement to my neighbor’s, so I could continue my HO scale train set through a complicated mountain and tunnel system. I wonder if my neighbor would mine? But what if the neighbor is not into trains? Imagine if you could get a whole neighborhood to sign-off on this one. It might make the news. I’ve always been fascinated by underground railroads. They’ve freed people and it would definitely free my mind. Let the whistle blow. I hear her coming. #ChooChoo #ChuggaChugga #”O”ScaleIsWayTooBig
A normal conversation is 60 decibals, a train running down the track is about 85, a lawnmower is about 90, a train siren can be anywhere between 95-150 (depending on density of the air, wind and distance), rock concert 110-120, tornado siren is 135 while a jet engine is 150. Train sirens are loud PERIOD and NOT comforting.
“… tornado siren is 135″….
But only if utilized.