Baker City Quiet Zone

Baker City Quiet Zone We can!

What if Baker City could affordably (1) improve the safety of our railroad crossings, (2) reduce the frequency of harmful train horns, (3) improve our health & safety, (4) increase our property values, and (5) grow local business?

Dear Neighbors,Last week we crossed an important milestone in the Quiet Zone process: the required in-person Diagnostic ...
07/16/2022

Dear Neighbors,

Last week we crossed an important milestone in the Quiet Zone process: the required in-person Diagnostic Team meeting. Baker City staff hosted the gathering, which included Union Pacific Railroad, Oregon Department of Transportation, and the Federal Railroad Administration. I participated, asked questions, and took copious notes.

We visited each crossing within the proposed Quiet Zone, and the results were promising. The Diagnostic Team affirmed the City’s proposed safety measures with limited adjustments. Union Pacific made some additional requests at the 17th & H Street intersection, which I expect will be addressed soon during a follow-up call with the Diagnostic Team.

These are the next steps: (1) The City plans to update & resubmit its Notice of Intent to Establish a Quiet Zone, (2) work through the 60-day comment period and address comments as needed, and then (3) submit the formal application to establish our Quiet Zone. Realistically, we are looking at 2023 to construct the safety measures and officially establish our Quiet Zone.

This Fall, we would like to schedule an Open House to share the latest Quiet Zone plans & drawings with the community, answer questions, and explore how to raise the remaining funds for the project. Stay cool and stay tuned for more updates!

Sincerely, and on behalf of your Neighbors for a Safer, Happier, and Healthier (Shh) Baker City,

Peter Fargo

Happy Friday Quiet Zone Supporters! We are reaching out today to encourage everyone who has expressed support but has no...
04/29/2022

Happy Friday Quiet Zone Supporters!
We are reaching out today to encourage everyone who has expressed support but has not yet donated, to please do so at your earliest convenience. The City Council recently upheld the motion to allow us to move forward with the Quiet Zone project (see link below). We are hoping to rally and raise the remaining funds necessary to implement improvements as soon as possible. Thanks so much for your support! As a reminder, here's how you can donate:

Write a Check to: City of Baker City, RR Quiet Zone, Fund 175-740.
Please include a separate memo with your payment amount, name, address, cell phone number, and email address.
Mail it to P.O. Box 650, Baker City, OR 97814.
Or drop your check in the lockbox outside City Hall.
Donors who provide their address and/or email will receive a letter of receipt from the City detailing their donation amount, the date received, and the project name.

Call the main office (541-523-6541) to make a payment by credit / debit card:
Specify that your donation is for “RR Quiet Zone Fund 175-740.”
Please provide your name, address, cell phone number, and email address. The City will send you a letter of receipt, which you might be able to use for your tax return. If you provide the contact information above, the City can also contact you in the future in case they need to provide a refund.

https://www.bakercityherald.com/news/local/baker-city-council-votes-4-3-in-favor-of-pursuing-railroad-quiet-zone-reversing-april/article_ab5c5fe2-c5cf-11ec-b4da-4bb58b809fe5.html

Here is an update on our fundraising efforts. We are still waiting for confirmation of donations from the last two weeks...
03/17/2022

Here is an update on our fundraising efforts. We are still waiting for confirmation of donations from the last two weeks from the City, however we did secure a 10k donation and are excited to share in the meantime! As a reminder, here is how you can donate:

Call the main office (541-523-6541) to make a payment by credit / debit card:
Specify that your donation is for “RR Quiet Zone Fund 175-740.”
Please provide your name, address, cell phone number, and email address. The City will send you a letter of receipt, which you might be able to use for your tax return. If you provide the contact information above, the City can also contact you in the future in case they need to provide a refund.

Write a Check to: City of Baker City, RR Quiet Zone, Fund 175-740.
Please include a separate memo with your payment amount, name, address, cell phone number,
and email address.
Mail it to P.O. Box 650, Baker City, OR 97814.
Or drop your check in the lockbox outside City Hall.
Again, donors who provide their address and/or email will receive a letter of receipt from the City detailing their donation amount, the date received, and the project name.

Fundraising Update: As of Friday 2/24, we have raised $55,774!As a reminder, here's 2 ways you can donate:1) Call the ma...
02/28/2022

Fundraising Update: As of Friday 2/24, we have raised $55,774!

As a reminder, here's 2 ways you can donate:

1) Call the main office (541-523-6541) to make a payment by credit / debit card:
o Specify that your donation is for “RR Quiet Zone Fund 175-740.”
o Please provide your name, address, cell phone number, and email address.
o The City will send you a receipt, which you can use for your tax return. If you provide the contact information above, the City can also contact you in the future in case they need to provide a refund.

2) Write a Check to: City of Baker City, RR Quiet Zone, Fund 175-740.
o Please include a separate memo with your payment amount, name, address, cell phone number, and email address.
o Mail it to P.O. Box 650, Baker City, OR 97814.
o Or drop your check in the lockbox outside City Hall.

Again, donors who provide their address and/or email will receive a letter of receipt from the City detailing their donation amount, the date received, and the project name.
Thanks for your support!

Every other Monday we will be posting an updated progress tracker to help keep everyone informed of our fundraising effo...
02/14/2022

Every other Monday we will be posting an updated progress tracker to help keep everyone informed of our fundraising efforts. One week in and we're off to an amazing start!! 🤩

02/08/2022

Hi Friends! The City of Baker City is ready to receive our donations for Quiet Zone safety measures. Here's how you can donate:

Call the main office (541-523-6541) to make a payment by credit / debit card:
o Specify that your donation is for “RR Quiet Zone Fund 175-740.”
o Please provide your name, address, cell phone number, and email address.
o The City will send you a receipt, which you can use for your tax return. If you provide the contact information above, the City can also contact you in the future in case they need to provide a refund.

Write a Check to: City of Baker City, RR Quiet Zone, Fund 175-740.
o Please include a separate memo with your payment amount, name, address, cell phone number, and email address.
o Mail it to P.O. Box 650, Baker City, OR 97814.
o Or drop your check in the lockbox outside City Hall.

Again, donors who provide their address and/or email will receive a letter of receipt from the City detailing their donation amount, the date received, and the project name.

Thanks for your support! Feel free to email [email protected] to confirm your payment, contact information, or if you have any other questions.

01/28/2022

Great news! On Tuesday 1/25, the Baker City Council decided to move forward with the Railroad Quiet Zone. This was a very important first step in ensuring a safer, happier, and healthier Baker City. If you have questions about the Quiet Zone or would like to help, please email [email protected]. We're happy to share what we know and, if you'd like to lend a hand, we would welcome your support.

01/24/2022

HI all! We're hopeful that four City Councilors will vote to establish the Quiet Zone on Tuesday, January 25. Lets make their vote an easy one by reminding them that you still support it as well. Please send one more email tonight or tomorrow to our City Council showing your support. Just 2 sentences, or resending a previous note would make a difference.

10/12/2021

Hey there Quiet Zone Supporters! We'll be attending the City Council Meeting tonight Oct 12 at 7pm to show our support for this amazing opportunity. Please join us at City Hall at 6:30 to encourage our City Council to make the decision to invest in a Safer, Happier, Healthier Baker City.

IMPROVING SAFETY & MENTAL HEALTHLetter to the Editor (August 7, 2021)I’m a retired police officer and a retired counselo...
08/07/2021

IMPROVING SAFETY & MENTAL HEALTH
Letter to the Editor (August 7, 2021)

I’m a retired police officer and a retired counselor at the Powder River Correctional Facility. I share this fact because I’m sensitive to the safety and security of citizens. I also have an educated awareness of mental health issues and some of the stressors which can aggravate sensitive populations.

Extreme noise levels are an added element to an already stressful environment. Stress can reduce productivity, increase blood pressure, cause anxiety, sleeplessness, and even propel people into violence.

There are not many times in this old man’s life that I’ve been as supportive of a cause as I am now. To reduce stressful noise, I fully support Baker City adopting a railroad quiet zone as more than 700 other U.S. cities have.

According to Federal Department of Transportation studies, railroad quiet zones have caused zero increase in railroad-auto accidents. That’s why I support this from the law enforcement perspective.

From a mental health professional perspective, this is a “no brainier” (pun intended). The sound of a trickling creek, or the quiet sound of a small fan is found to be soothing and refreshing. Now consider the opposite — a loud horn breaking up our concentration and sleeping patterns multiple times per day and night.

The impacts on sensitive populations include our children: Persistent loud noises can cause them to be more irritable, have behavior issues at school and home, get poorer grades, and sleep less, which makes everything harder.

A close friend and fellow mental health professional literally sold her house near the train tracks for a low price recently because of the trains. The stress just wasn’t worth it.

I value this great place, Baker City. Many of us appreciate just what a wonderful place it really is. Let’s make it a little more wonderful. I simply do not see this as a controversial issue. Please join me in supporting a cause that will reduce our stress and enrich our lives.

P.S. I’m signing the petition going around town. If you are like-minded, maybe you will too? (https://bit.ly/qzbaker)

Layne Frambes

--
Find it in the Baker City Herald and subscribe to your local paper. 🤓
https://www.bakercityherald.com/opinion/letters/letter-to-the-editor-for-aug-7-2021/article_1086b07a-f6b9-11eb-b62d-77dda58efd94.html

08/04/2021

It was wonderful seeing so many of you at Community Night Out. Thank you for visiting with us and for your many gestures of support. Spread the word and educate your neighbors about this endeavor and we can make it happen! :-)

08/03/2021

Have you heard about the proposed Railroad Quiet Zone in Baker City? This exciting opportunity to improve our beloved town is within reach. Come visit us at the the Pavilion at Geiser Pollman Park to ask questions or learn how you can help on August 3rd for Community Night Out between 5-8pm. 🙂

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1655 1st Street
Baker City, OR
97814

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