PETITION TRAIN HORN NOISE REDUCTION AND QUIET ZONE We, the undersigned, petition the City Council of Turlock to establish the City of Turlock as a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) approved train horn Quiet Zone (QZ). We want the City Council to remedy the noise pollution problem caused by the train whistle by: 1. Having City Council place an item on the agenda at the next Council meeting to discuss a Motion to establish a QZ for our city. 2. Having City Council file a written Notice of Intent to the FRA. (See below for Establishing a Quite Zone.) The City of Turlock is a wonderful city to live in. However, the noise caused by the train whistle, at all hours of the day and night, are detracting from almost all of the positive reasons for living in this city; Especially knowing that the FRA has made it possible, through the establishment of a QZ, for local governments and municipalities to virtually eliminate all of the noise pollution caused by the damaging sound levels of the train horn when passing through a grade crossing while maintaining and in some cases, increasing the safety level. It has been well documented and researched to the benefits of a full night sleep and the harms that lack of sleep can cause the human body and mind. The following link, www.webmd.com is just one example of the numerous articles and studies done on how sleep deprivation can impair your mind and body; how lack of sleep can impair ones judgment, actually causing more accidents and more illness. During sleep and rest the body fights infection, illness and other ailments and regenerates the mind. Therefore, places of healing like hospitals, elderly care centers, safe houses, churches and most importantly your home need to have an environment, among other things, that are conducive to restful sleep to help people heal from their ailments and illness. For reference, between N Berkeley Ave. and Taylor and the east side of the city boundary there are currently approximately 500 homes and plans for 200 more new homes that are affected by the noise pollution created by the train horn. Over a 24 hour period on Feb 20th & Feb 21st over 100 trains, all blowing their horns, were counted throughout the day and night. The frequency and the hours of the night that the whistle blows create a negative environment for sleep, healing, working and the overall quality of life. Many of the business in this town, the John Pitman High School, Turlock Junior High , and the University of Stanislaus facilities and dormitories would greatly benefit from a QZ as well. We would like to have City Council make it a priority to eliminate the noise pollution caused by the train horn and establish a QZ for our city. The following links show how to establish a QZ. http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/content/1318 Other cities have already established Quite Zones. For instance San Diego (http://www.quietzonesd.info/) and Richmond CA (http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.aspNID=1167.) Establishing a Quiet Zone ________________________________________ There are both Federal and State regulations that govern the sounding of train locomotive horns. Federal regulations called the Final Rule on the Use of Locomotive Horns at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings, 49 CFR 222 (