Petition Seeks Environmental Upgrades to Cypress Park Metrolink Station

Elysian Valley resident Grove Pashley is seeking supporters for a petition that requests Metrolink CEO John Fenton to implement a series of environmental upgrades at its maintenance station located at Taylor Yard.

Local critics of the Taylor Yard station, located at 1555 N. San Fernando Rd., argue that both the city and Metrolink officials have provided inadequate safeguards for the air and noise pollution caused by idling trains.

Pashley is the founder of the Northeast L.A Residents for Clean Air Coalition, which has been one of the most outspoken critics of Metrolink.

Pashley's petition lists the following requests:

• An immediate focused Health Risk Assessment for the Taylor Yard Facility from Metrolink. We need to know what the baseline emissions are, to be able to quantify the effectiveness of your remediation efforts.

• Immediate reduction in service yard hours – with no “overflow traffic.” Limit servicing hours to 7 AM to 3 PM, Monday through Friday and no weekend service. Any overflow traffic into the facility must be serviced at alternative facilities such as the Eastern Maintenance Facility.

• Electric power should be upgraded throughout Taylor Yard to provide power to passenger cars while they are being serviced to reduce engine idling time.

• Stronger enforcement of safety regulations for noisy, heavy exhaust periods, including reducing the idling time of each engine serviced for no more than 20 minutes per day. Purchase and use non-polluting pushcarts for moving trains around the yard.

• Installation of exhaust and noise capture hood devices where engines are “load tested”, i.e. heaving, revving, and for engines that are idling during daily general maintenance.

• Implement a quiet zone for horns and bells. Work with the LA City Council Districts and the communities in order to implement sound barriers.

During a presentation given to Metrolink neighbors in January, Fenton said that he's already taken steps to address noise and air pollution concerns.

Among the commitments made by Fenton in the presentation was for Metro to replace their current engines with more fuel efficient ones, to order custom cables to allow trains to run on electric power while being maintained and to look into the possibility of planting trees as a natural sound barrier.

Fenton's full presentation can be seen here.