Aunt Mary wrote on Jul 17, 2008 11:29 PM:Bury People, Not Track?

This is wrong. The originator has to go.

Bury Jerome Stocks. . Please vote for someone besides Jerome Stocks come November.

We are united wrote on Jul 17, 2008 11:32 PM:We the developers and Employee unions trying to profit off of Encinitas great quality of life decided to support Jerome again for supporting the grade seperated solutions. Great Job Jerry!

Amy wrote on Jul 18, 2008 12:18 AM:That’s funny Richard. San Marcos just received an at grade crossing approved by the PUC. And what about all the Coaster station at grade crossings and what about San Clemente. Richard- You are obviously one of the herd and cannot think what is best for Encinitas. Its time for you to go and live a fun life away from doing damage to Encinitas.

Aaron wrote on Jul 18, 2008 5:38 AM:Underground? Sounds like a good place for the homeless to gather and set up living quarters.

John E wrote on Jul 18, 2008 6:40 AM:Commissioner Steyaert gets it. Individual citizens are indeed smart enough to cross the tracks safely, and many of us do so frequently, because the tracks divide our community. With remarkably few exceptions, all of the pedestrian deaths on the tracks have been suicides, and the undercrossings will not prevent these. Trains are fast and quiet, but they are visible and entirely predictable, "The Fugitive" movie's derailment scene notwithstanding. I maintain that it is far safer to cross the tracks than to cross most local streets, which entails dealing with inattentive motorists.

It is trivial to cross the tracks safely. For most of us, the only real concern is to avoid getting busted while doing so.

Zephon wrote on Jul 18, 2008 6:53 AM:$20 million dollars... yeah right.

Bet if these 3 tunnels for homeless encampments are made the price goes up to $40 million.

What a waste of taxpayer funds.

Put them in at grade level or better yet bury the tracks and put a parkway on top of them and this would be a permanent solution.

What a stupid idea.

Hey wrote on Jul 18, 2008 7:41 AM:it's only taxpayer money, who cares. I didn't see SurfRider approval or an environmental impact study.

Oceansider wrote on Jul 18, 2008 7:44 AM:We love our underground track crossing. Is Encinitas just full of irrational mean-spirited objectors or are they a few individuals who who merely congregate on this blog?

Its the horns stupid wrote on Jul 18, 2008 7:48 AM:With at-grade crossings the horns must blast. The horns are what destroy our coastal quality of lilfe. Jerome Stocks is at least attempting to solve the real problem with a realistic solution.
I support Jerome Stocks, qiet zones, and the crossings.

DC wrote on Jul 18, 2008 8:42 AM:I completely support this project.

It is an improvement for the downtown stretc and ehancement for regional dwellers.

Homeless shelter? Please think that one through. How many homeless people do you see roaming the streets in town now? 1? 2? This isn't downtown San Francisco people.

LOL wrote on Jul 18, 2008 8:45 AM:To Its the horns stupid

No... it's the "stupid people that can't see or hear a train coming while crossing the tracks" that destroy you coastal quality of life. If people used common sense in the past, present, and future, then trains wouldn't have to blast their horn!

far sighted wrote on Jul 18, 2008 8:50 AM:Why are we wasting money on these crossings? Put the money to use hiring fund raisers to acquire enough money to bury the tracks, not people.

Let the status quo remain until we can put the tracks underground. Imagine the coastal corridor if we didn't have the train dividing our community. Perhaps the city and NCTD need to be sued before they get the message that the tracks need to go underground.

Heck, they put a train under the city of Los Angeles they should be able to lower our measly 7 miles of track.

ribeyek wrote on Jul 18, 2008 8:59 AM:The city should not throw away $20M on tweaker bunkers (ped tunnels). That money, along with Prop 1, TransNet and Section 130 money, should go to the bury-the-track fund.

To Its the Horns wrote on Jul 18, 2008 9:50 AM:Trains have been running that track for a very long time. You are like the folks that buy close to an airport then expect the airport to move. If you don't like the horns, move! I suggest you move to the Salton Sea. Salt water, nice weather and NO TRAIN HORNS!!!

ribeyek wrote on Jul 18, 2008 11:28 AM:9:50 AM: Just because something has been that way for a very long time does not mean it can not be improved. Solano Beach improved their situation. Trains do not speed though San Clemente or Del Mar so why should Leucadia have to put up with it?

Your logic of keeping everything the way it has always been would include: allowing smoking just about everywhere, cars running on leaded gasoline with no smog equipment required and it would be illegal for people of Mexican or native descent to own property in Leucadia. (Avocado Acres)

SB 1856 wants to add 200+ MPH train service so it is more important than every to improve health and safety along the tracks.

Zephon wrote on Jul 18, 2008 11:58 AM:Train horns will not go away with these pedestrian tunnels. They are required by Federal law at all Railroad crossings. To get rid of the horns we would have to remove the car traffic crossings or get a special exception from the feds that would still cost less than these pedestrian tunnels.

Truthfully I am used to the horns and while I would like to see a permanent solution to both problems (horns and car/pedestrian crossings) - by burying the tracks.

This pedestrian tunnel for tweakers and the many homeless in our neighborhood has nothing to do with horns.

Vote Stocks out!

Bright wrote on Jul 18, 2008 1:58 PM:Encinitas does not need pedestrian crossings. My goodness!! Do we need pedestrian crossings for all of the streets the Sprinter crosses? What a stupid idea. The people who get hurt are the ones who want to be, crossing won't prevent them to do what they want to themselves. And personally, as a woman, I would never go underground, that is just asking for it! And these tunnels will become sleepovers for the homeless and will stink! A man must have come up with this idea! Bright!

Zephon wrote on Jul 18, 2008 2:26 PM:So it begs to question. Why is Stocks so bent on putting in pedestrian tunnels?

As the Citizens of North County own this NCTD railway. The NCTD folks think less of mass transit and are more focused on freight traffic. They want to double track the whole coast so freight trains can rumble goods to and from the Port of San Diego.

If the pedestrian tunnels go in they will next fence in the entire public right of way blocking most all of us going to and from the beach.

Bottom line, NCTD wants to cater to increased freight traffic and fence this public right of way surrounding the railroad.

I just wish somebody like Stocks, our NCTD representative, or someone from NCTD would come out and tell us the truth. It is not about public safety or horns.

In the end I say put it up to a vote and let the citizens that Stocks wants to pay for this have a say whether we should spend many tens of millions of dollars on this nonsense.

Zephon is wrong wrote on Jul 18, 2008 9:24 PM:These crossings were a lawsuit settlement agreement between the city and NCTD back in 2002/2003 stemming from the Cardiff double tracking. Dennis Holz and Christy Guerin drove the debate back then, Stocks was a "backbencher" with Houlihan, Guerin, and Holz in the drivers seat.
One or two of you clowns don't like the plan? Where the heck were you when Maggie was touting it, or during SIX YEARS of public meetings? Peder Norby and DEMA brokered this deal, so go back to your angry ignorant sleep. You are an embarassment for the rational local community of Encinitas. And by the way, the rest of the state would love for you to win and we fail to get the money, because then they get it.

The prophet wrote on Jul 18, 2008 9:33 PM:AMTRAK wants to run more trains. The Coaster would like to run more trains. More trains cannot be run now because the tracks are at their physical capacity. Environmental groups will sue SANDAG and NCTD to force double tracking instead of widening the freeways even more than now planned. Double tracking will happen and commuter trains will increase in frequency. So will freight trains because one freight train removes 90 big rigs from the freeways which is important for reducing greenhouse gases and global warming.
Double tracking and fencing of the right of way is inevitable so convenient close together legal crossings have a value. And grade seperated is best for all concerned.

becky wrote on Jul 19, 2008 12:13 AM:What is best is to vote out the problem that regularily sells out Encinitas to NCTD. Vote out the only bad thing in Encinitas. Vote out Jerome Stocks.

Chas wrote on Jul 19, 2008 6:11 AM:Yes, I don't get involved in city affairs as much as I should, but why do you people move to our town and then want to change everything? Now I have to fight to stop these worthless tunnels. Think about three more traffic lights on the highway, all the cars belching smog and greenhouse gasses. What a waste of electricity. Dont forget these tunnels will be below grade some 12 feet. THERE WILL BE BLIND SPOTS AT ALL THE TUNNELS! To quote staff at the meeting on 7-17: "You will be able to stand at the top of the ramp and access the situation before you commit" Another staff then said:" There will be security camera's" This is a complete waste of our taxpayer funds. Cut your losses and bury this project. We could save millions by having a taxi on each side of the tracks providing free shuttle service from one side to the other. If these tunnels get built and people don't use them, NCTD will erect six foot high wire mesh fences from Baiquitos lagoon to San Elijo lagoon. Why does the Nanny State again have to protect us from ourselves? I'm sure another traffic light at the SRF will be a welcome addition. It will match the Temple and gardens. Residents in Cardiff will love a traffic light in their sunset view. Just more color and it flashes. WHAT A JOKE!

Scotty wrote on Jul 19, 2008 7:00 AM:Can't they just beam us across?

Chas wrote on Jul 19, 2008 7:51 AM:NCTD baited a trap with FREE money for under crossings. City leaders bit and now the tracks will never be lowered. But we will have a six or seven foot high fence from San Elijo lagoon to Batiquitos lagoon.

Janet wrote on Jul 20, 2008 8:35 AM:First comes the tunnels for people, then the double tracking, then the 8 foot high prison fences from Cardiff through Leucadia. This will divide and limit beach access for Encinitas forever. Help solve the problem and vote out Jerome Stocks in November.

BOB wrote on Jul 20, 2008 2:34 PM:Pedistrian tunnels are not the answer. This plan lacks vision and understanding. A costly boondoggle of myopic proportions, the proposed undercrossings are crime scenes waiting to happen.

Undergrounding the rail corridor below grade through Encinitas is the only way to include a second track.

Encinitas residents in Leucadia and Cardiff deserve to be listen to, and heard, on the myriad train "issues" impacting those coastal communities.

It is time for the Encinitas City to start planning for the inevitable and srting demanding from state and federal government on the rail expanison upgrade needed to accomodate future rail needs in Southern California.

Rob wrote on Jul 20, 2008 4:18 PM:You people who demand pedestrian crossings are hilarious. It is much more dangerous to cross Vulcan or Highway 101 than it is to cross the tracks. Do you need the nanny government to hold your hands and assist all of you helpless people across the street the rest of your lives? What a bunch of ninnies!

Zephon wrote on Jul 20, 2008 6:15 PM:In August 2003, Stocks voted in favor for the current passing/double tracks in Encinitas as a board member of NCTD representing Encinitas and acting mayor.

Against the wishes of most of the citizens of Encinitas.

Siding with him was Bill Horn who also worked hard for the double tracking of Encinitas.

Stocks is also our NCTD board representative that allowed all the trees to be cut down along the NCTD tracks in Leucadia recently - get ready for double tracking there.

resident wrote on Jul 28, 2008 2:13 PM:To the Oceanside response: I went through your tunnel. It is about 20 feet straight across and has complete visibility. It is nice. This is not what has been suggested for Encinitas. The ones for Encinitas have long ramps to get down to them and then long ramps to get back up to the street. According to the consultant once you got down you could look to see if anyone was lurking before going through. Short term Encinitas needs at grade crossings and long term the only solution is to underground the train. Not only has this been done in Europe and San Francisco but also locally in Solana Beach.