Del Mar group to begin raising funds for wayside horn
A citizens committee in Del Mar will soon begin a fundraising drive to raise $276,770, the total estimated cost of installing a quieter wayside train horn for trains passing through Del Mar.
The cost estimate was outlined in a letter sent by the North County Transit District (NCTD) to the City of Del Mar on July 14. The Citizens Wayside Horn Committee is chaired by Hershell Price, and includes Mayor Richard Earnest and councilmember Carl Hilliard, the liaison between the committee and the City Council.
The Citizens Wayside Horn Committee met on July 19 to discuss the NCTD letter and formulate a plan to raise the necessary funds to move the project forward.
Price explained that the $276,770 includes more than $63,000 in contingency funds, because, as outlined in the NCTD letter, Del Mar would be the first jurisdiction in the NCTD to undertake such a project. Though the $276,770 price tag may decrease as the project moves forward, Price said NCTD “didn’t want to underestimate” the total cost.
“We won’t know the final price until (NCTD) starts the design,” said Price. The cost of designing the wayside horn has been set at $17,548. Price said the committee hopes that once it raises $17,548, NCTD will agree to begin working on the project, and it will be able to present the citizens committee with a more accurate outline for the total cost of the project.
At the Aug. 2 Del Mar City Council meeting, Price said the Citizens Wayside Horn Committee will ask the city to accept the contract for $276,770. If the City does so, the citizens committee will begin work to raise the total sum of the project. The money must be raised through private donations. To date, the citizens committee has raised $12,000 through internal contributions.
Though the fundraising comes during trying economic times, Price said he is confident the community will rally in support.
“We’ll go out to the community and everyone we can to raise this money, just like did for Shores property and for the Powerhouse, like we do for all the things we’ve done in the past,” said Price. “It’ll be a community effort.”
This is not something we’re going to fail at,” he added. “We’re going to complete it. We’re going to raise the money. Everyone’s dedicated to it, we’re going to make it happen.”
— Jonathan Horn contributed to this report.
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- AUDIO: Quieter wayside train horn tested in Del Mar
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