transportation and quality of life

A lot has happened in the last week. The state is working on a bill to reform property taxes, the South Shore expansion looks like it will get funding and the hysteria surrounding the CN has died down for the moment. That's a lot and it will take time for the fallout to become apparent. In the meatime let's think about something else.
How does heavy transportation affect quality of life, and can we minimize the negative effects.
Although I work for a railroad, I'll be the first to admit that I don't want to live next to a noisy main line where horns are blowing 24/7; or next to a yard where cars are banging together all night long and the exhaust from the diesel engines is wafting through the neighborhood.
Do we have to just live with these things if we have railroads in our community? No we don't. I propose a pilot project in Hammond that would showcase methods to minimize these affects.
This project would take place along the IHB main line that parallels Willow Ct. from Columbia to the state line.
Step one erect sound barrier walls, similar to those by the expressway, on the north side from Columbia to Hohman. Not only with this help reduce noise, it will help improve safety by reducingthe number of tresspassers on the tracks under the Hohman overpass and will be much mor effective at preventing children from gaining access to the tracks. On the south side build the sound barrier from Maywood to Sohl (the only stretch that has housing). At the same time establish a "quiet zone" as laid out in the Federal Railroad Administration rules http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/content/1475 along the same stretch. The quiet zone would require of not just the railroad and the city, but also the state and federal governments as well. The crossing at Sohl St. would have to be upgraded but, as we have tragically seen, many crossings in Hammond need that as it stands now.
The second step, I believe, will be harder because it will not only require the cooperation of the railroad, the city, the state, the EPA, and the FRA, but it will require money too.
The Indiana Harbor Belt railroad uses locomotives that were state of the art in the 60's. They are noisy. They pollute. They are inefficient.
Using todays' technology locomotives are available, from several manufacturers, that are much more quiet, have virtually zero emissions, and are much more efficient. How about these agencies work together to help the IHB acquire several of these locomotives. Of course if any funding from the city is used it would have to be be agreed that these units are to be used at the Gibson Yard and other locations in the city.
I know that you're thinking, how much will all this cost; but my retort is, how much is improved quality of life, increased safety, and possible increased property values, worth?