Crossing arms will not quiet trains

To the editor:

I don't know who thinks putting in crossing arms will quiet trains downtown, but it won't.

I live in the Eighth Avenue and Rockford Road area and the crossing arms at Eighth Avenue do nothing to quiet the train horns. Earlier this week it was 10:15 p.m. and they were out blowing the whistle, or how about the 3 a.m. whistles.

I have lived in the area for 25-plus years and only occasionally do we have a conductor who goes easy on the horn at the Eighth Avenue crossing, usually that is when we are outside with our grandchildren. Most days when we are outside or when the windows are open and the train is coming, we have to put all conversation on hold and press hold on the TV until they pass.

I love the trains. I love that my grandchildren can stand in the window and watch them. Living by the train tracks is a choice and most times I don't even notice them, but the whistle is one sound that definitely doesn't go unnoticed. One sound that having crossing arms won't quiet.

Edith Chase

Cedar Rapids