Stimulating silence

We have a fresh idea for spending a tiny fraction of the $787 billion federal stimulus package.

How about we stimulate a restful night’s sleep for Baker City residents?

We can do it.

We’re talking about creating a train whistle “quiet zone” in Baker City.

In cities with quiet zones, locomotives aren’t required to blare their whistles at each street crossing.

We understand the idea is not new here.

We also understand that the last time city voters were asked their opinion on the matter, in May 2002, 82 percent of them said they’re not interested in a quiet zone.

But there were no federal dollars available then.

Baker City residents would have had to pay the cost, estimated at $40,000 to $60,000, to install the more restrictive gates at railroad crossings which are required for quiet zones.

But we doubt many people would object to silencing train whistles at the five public crossings in Baker City if the feds picked up the tab.

Sure it’s still our money.

But we’d rather a minuscule amount of that massive outlay pay for something that significantly improves the quality of life here.

Or do you expect to derive some great benefit from, say, the $300 million Congress allocated to buy “green” cars for federal workers?

Four Oregon cities are quiet zones: Pendleton, The Dalles, Columbia City and Westfir.

A Bend resident is lobbying city councilors there to make that city the fifth.

Christine Adams, who works for the Federal Railroad Administration, told a reporter for The (Bend) Bulletin that she believes the upgraded crossings in quiet zone cities are safer than normal crossings where trains do blow their whistles.

That’s an awfully convincing case.

Quieter.

And safer.

Our final suggestion: The city should, if it secures quiet zone status, somehow honor the late Chuck Phegley.

While serving on the City Council, Phegley was the main proponent for silencing train whistles.

Chuck made a valiant effort.

He just didn’t have $787 billion on the table.