In Allandale, sound wall plan causes dissonance

1. http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/in-allandale-sound-wall-plan-causes-dissonance/nbHyB/

2. Category of Problem/Issue identified in article: Health/ medical, education

3. Level of problem/issue: Local Level

4. A potential policy that is being considered to help a problem/issue that individuals/families face

5. Why this is important to individuals/families OR How does this affect individuals/families:
This is important to those families and individuals that will live by the wall because in parts of MoPac, the wall will be as high as 20 feet.  It affects these people because some that were for it, did not expect it to be that high. 

6. What are your views on the issue/policy?
This one is a tough one as well.  I think that it is a great idea for them to have a wall that will block out the noise by the Union Pacific tracks.  I also disagree because it will affect all those that are going to live by the wall.  The Texas Regional Mobility Authority plans to build the 20 foot-high wall along the Great Northern, which is less than 25 yards from local Laves-Webb's house.  Laves-Webb explains how this 20 foot-tall wall would cause earlier sunsets, block breezes, attract graffiti artists and erase the view of greenery.  Some barriers will be 20 feet high, but other run about 12 feet high and 8 feet high.  I think that not enough information was give when this was first proposed because some did not think that it would be so high.  Some claim that they voted without knowing that it would be so high.  I think that they should discuss more details on these barriers and redo a vote on who is for or against it.  It is important that they do a re-count because those people that vote are going to be the ones that are going to be affected.  I think that it is somewhat a great idea because it helps reduce noise, but at the same time it is also vulnerable to graffiti artists.  Austin is already know to have graffiti art all around town, so I don't see this wall not getting graffitied as soon as it's built.  Some others, like Frances Allen are just delighted to see it finally happening.  She states, "I am honestly just delighted  that it will happen before I die."  It's a tough situation, so all they can really hope for is a re-count to see what the peoples' opinions are and which barriers to approve.