September 15, 2003
Dear Chronicle Watch:
Posted by
Zack
(Local issue: I sent this letter to the SF Chronicle and city government officials this morning)
There is a serious design flaw in MUNI's network at the corner of 30th and Church, outbound direction. The incredibly loud screeching (exceeding 130 decibels many times during the day!) coming from the MUNI cars incorrectly sitting on the rails of the outbound J-line is causing hearing damage to the neighborhood's children, elderly, animals and adults.
This is a physical health, mental health and quality of life problem.
Physical health problems associated with screeching:
1) I have independently verified that the screeching created from the MUNI cars at 30th and Church exceed safety and acceptability limits (over 130 db several time a day)
Mental health problems associated with screeching in children and elderly:
1) Solid research has shown that intermittent loud sounds (above 100 db) has been proven to create learning difficulties in young children, lowering their IQ over time by at least 10%
2) There are several schools in the immediate area including St. Paul's School and Church, Kate Kennedy Elementary School, not to mention the On Lok Senior center (Article on hearing loss in children) not mention the many day care facilities in the immediate area and the many children that play daily at the Upper Noe Valley Community Center.
Quality of life:
Lastly, the the screeching is irradiating to the entire neighborhood, waking up children, disturbing shoppers and conversations throughout the day and night. All of this increases stress levels in the neighborhood.
The Chronicle has done an excellent job in the past of alerting the citizens of San Francisco to this problem, but even since it was highlighted in 1997, this particular problem at 30th and Church continues unresolved. Current stop gap measures of greasing the tracks does not work.
Here are several links to S.F Chronicle articles written over the past several years about this problem: (1), (2),(3)
I want to bring this to the attention of city manager's before lawsuits based upon the above facts become obvious to the wider community and costly, emotionally draining legal action is taken by citizen groups. Let's save the city money now, by taking action immediately. Use the new increase in fares to solve this problem.
Update: The past three days MUNI workers have been out every morning greasing the tracks and the noise levels have dropped dramatically. The you to the 15 board of supervisors who I sent this email to.
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Zack Lynch is author of The Neuro Revolution: How Brain Science Is Changing Our World (St. Martin's Press, July 2009).
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