Muni Diaries

The following story was originally posted on the Ocean Beach Bulletin. It was written by Kristine Mendoza. Photo and videos are by Tom Prete.

Ocean Beach, at the westernmost edge of San Francisco, has been a well-known destination for those wanting to get away from the loud and bustling city. Residents appreciate its sleepiness and quiet beach-town vibe, while visitors bask in the fog on its sandy beaches, meditating to the repeating pattern of foghorns and seagull calls.

However, for a group of residents near one of the hubs of the neighborhood, the ocean sounds have been drowned out by the high-pitched wail of the N-Judah train. Muni representatives say the agency is aware of the problem at the western turnaround of the N-Judah route at La Playa and Lower Great Highway, and is working on a long-term solution. But residents and businesses have been seeking a fix to the shrieking streetcars for years.

“The noise is deafening,” explained John Zwolinksi of the La Playa/Great Highway Neighborhood Watch.

Since the group’s formation two years ago, the issue of the noise at the end of the line has been at the forefront of its agenda. Zwolinski has teamed up with several neighbors as well as Supervisor Carmen Chu to get their voices heard at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, which oversees Muni.

Heavy metal noise
According to John Haley, director of transit operations at the SFMTA, the noise is caused by the metal-to-metal interface of streetcar wheel and rail. In addition, the light-rail vehicles in use today are much heavier than the cars that were originally used on these tracks. The cars now used on Market Street for the F-Market line were the standard car up until the mid-1970s. Those cars weighed up to 25,000 pounds less than the modern LRVs. Haley stated that the noise is exacerbated by the heavier cars and the tight turning radius at this particular turnaround.

Residents were told last winter that a resolution was in the works. Crews of “greasers” were sent to the site of the noise to lubricate the track in an attempt to silence the wailing. However, the efforts – and results – were short-lived.

“After a couple of turns the grease wears off,” said Zwolinski.

According to Zwolinski, Muni devised a plan to install automatic greasers that would lubricate the track in two spots along the turnaround, using biodegradable grease. That project was supposed to be in place in the spring of 2010.

Longtime residents aren’t the only ones taking issue with the noise level. Greg Seth, manager at the Oceanview Motel at the end of the N-Judah line, says the noise has been an issue for his guests.

“There are a lot of people that don’t want these rooms,” Seth said. “It hasn’t affected business a great deal, but people do complain.”

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