Current Update – October 25th, 2024

On September 13th, I sent have sent an email to all the candidates asking for their position on the Citywide Train Horn Quiet Zone. 

Their responses will be posted here as they are received. I’ll also email them to the group, post them to the Facebook group, and also to the Nextdoor group.

Here’s the email they all received:

Subject: Encinitas Train Horn Quiet Zone – Candidate Position Request

Dear (Candidate Name Here),

I am writing on behalf of the Encinitas Train Horn Quiet Zone Group, representing approximately 4,000 residents in the train horn blast zone. Our single focus is implementing a citywide train horn quiet zone to address the 744 daily train horn blasts affecting our quality of life.

In 2005, the federal government enacted the Train Horn Rule, essentially issuing an ultimatum to cities nationwide: improve your rail crossing safety or subject your residents to punitive train horn blasts 24/7. Sadly, nearly two decades later, Encinitas stands as one of the few holdouts that have failed to implement these crucial safety upgrades. Our city’s inaction has left thousands of residents enduring what amounts to a daily auditory assault – a constant, ear-splitting reminder of our local government’s failure to prioritize both our safety and quality of life.

Your responses to the following questions will be shared verbatim with our members via email, Facebook, and Nextdoor. We request that you address only the train horn quiet zone issue in your responses. While we are only about 4,000 people out of the city’s total 60,000, we are very motivated and many of us would do anything to make the train horn stop. We will vote by the thousands, as we did in the last city election if we feel there is a candidate who will champion the cause.

Important: Before posting your responses, will calculate a “commitment score” based on your numerical ratings. This score, along with your answers, will be shared with residents to easily compare candidates’ dedication to resolving this issue. 

Your thoughtful consideration of each rating is crucial.

Please answer the following questions, including a rating on a scale of 1-10 where indicated (1 being lowest, 10 being highest):

1. Rate your understanding (1-10) of the impact of train horn noise on residents’ quality of life. Have you personally experienced living in the blast zone? Do you know residents who live in the blast zone? Please explain your rating.

1. Rate your commitment (1-10) to allocate the necessary funds (approximately $12 million) for the train horn quiet zone project in the 2025 budget. We know that the budgets are never enough to fund all the initiatives and that some things will need to be cut in order to fund construction starting in 2025, we are sorry about this, but thousands of us are suffering day and night, and are looking for our champions who will fund construction of the quiet zone to end our suffering.

1. Rate the urgency (1-10) you place on implementing the quiet zone. Why did you choose this rating, considering the 20-year delay since the federal law was passed?

1. Rate your willingness (1-10) to make the train horn quiet zone a top budget priority. Please explain your position.

1. Some suggest applying for grants to fund this project. Hopefully, grants can be awarded quickly. However, sometimes waiting for grants will delay implementation for years. Rate your willingness (1-10) to get started in 2025 with city funding if no grants are awarded in 2025. Please explain your position.

Once again, we respectfully request that you focus your responses solely on the train horn issue. Your detailed answers and ratings will be used to calculate your overall commitment score (with 50 being a perfect score), helping our members make an informed decision in the upcoming election.

Thank you for your time and thorough consideration of this pressing quality of life issue for Encinitas residents. Your commitment score and detailed responses will be crucial in demonstrating your dedication to finally addressing this long-standing problem and stopping the suffering of those affected by train horn noise.

We know that being an elected city official is oftentimes a thankless job and we appreciate you for wanting to make Encinitas a better, safer, and quieter place.

Sincerely,

Tim Bratton

Candidate Replies

Mayor – Tony Kranz

Tony sent his answers in a PDF. You can see his PDF by clicking the link below.

Tony Kranz answers PDF

Please read his responses carefully so you can make an informed decision in the election.

Mayor – Bruce Ehlers

Score 43 out of 50. Although Bruce did not rate each answer a 10, he did rate the funding commitment a 10 which is very promising.

Bruce sent this answers in a Docx file. You can see that document by clicking the link below.

Bruce Ehlers’ answers Docx

Please read his responses carefully so you can make an informed decision in the election.

District 1 – Luke Shaffer

1. Rate your understanding (1-10) of the impact of train horn noise on residents’ quality of life.
   
   1. Rating: 14/10

      While I haven’t lived in the blast zone myself, conversations with residents—especially those living within a 500-foot radius of the crossings—have highlighted the severe impact of train horns on their lives. Many are disturbed at night, leading to disrupted sleep patterns and various health issues. Studies have linked sleep disturbances to increased dementia, cardiac problems, and other health concerns. As a council member, I will prioritize this issue.

2. Rate your commitment (1-10) to allocate the necessary funds (approximately $12 million) for the train horn quiet zone project in the 2025 budget.
   
   1. Rating: 14/10

      I recognize that budgets are always tight, but I believe the Quiet Zone project warrants priority attention. We must adopt a balanced approach to funding it alongside other critical needs like infrastructure and public health. I support hiring a professional grant writer to enhance our chances of securing funding. Other cities, like Davis, have successfully implemented this model. A grant is reportedly in progress, with a submission due soon, and I am committed to ensuring that the city allocates the approximately $2.5 million necessary to support this project, especially given its health and safety implications.

3. Rate the urgency (1-10) you place on implementing the quiet zone.
   
   1. Rating: 14/10

      I understand the frustration of waiting 20 years for this issue to be resolved, especially since discussions about the rail corridor have been ongoing since the early 1990s. This project was on the list for the 2019 budget but was pushed out and only brought back into focus by community action in 2022. We’ve seen numerous studies without real action, and while $750K was approved in the 2022 budget, it’s been delayed until November 2023. This clearly shows that this has not been a priority. The current mayor, having been on the council since 2012, should have taken more action to make this a reality. I’m committed to making the Quiet Zone a priority and ensuring dedicated resources to address this issue promptly.

4. Rate your willingness (1-10) to make the train horn quiet zone a top budget priority.
   
   1. Rating: 14/10

      I understand the importance of the Quiet Zone to Leucadians/Encinitans living near the railroad tracks, and I’m committed to making it a priority while balancing the city’s overall needs. I believe we can find room for this project and still address other critical issues like flood safety and infrastructure. While there’s current discussion about adding pickleball courts in Cardiff for $3M, I view the quiet zone funding of $2.5M as a clear top priority.

5. Rate your willingness (1-10) to get started in 2025 with city funding if no grants are awarded.
   
   1. Rating: 14/10

      While securing grants should be a priority, I will strongly advocate for a professional grant writer on staff to improve our chances of success. I’m committed to ensuring that we begin work in 2025, preventing further unnecessary delays. I will advocate for revisiting the full list of projects to ensure our data is accurate and up-to-date, allowing for informed decisions.

District 1 – Allison Blackwell

District 2 – Jim O’Hara

District 2 – Destiny Preston

Score 50 out of 50.

Destiny sent her answers in a PDF. You can see her PDF by clicking the link below.

Destiny Preston answers PDF 

Please read her responses carefully so you can make an informed decision in the election.