TRAFFIC NOISE continued
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TCA SR-241 NOISE STUDY, COUNTY OF ORANGE:
AAC recently completed a
traffic noise study for the Transportation Corridor Agency SR-241
Roadway Widening Project in Orange County. The purpose of the study
was to evaluate the noise impact associated with widening the
southbound roadway. The study area began at approximately Bake
Parkway and ended at Medlinda Road Bridge. Residences on both sides
of SR-241 were the primary focus of the noise study. AAC principals
met with TCA sub-consultants to identify key locations as part of
the kick-off meeting. The noise study included noise monitoring, and
traffic noise analyses using Caltrans’ Sound2000 prediction model.
Impacts were assessed based on Caltrans NAC and the results for
study were summarized in a noise study report consistent with
Caltrans’ Traffic Noise Protocol.
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MOUNTAIN VIEW AVENUE ROADWAY
WIDENING TRAFFIC NOISE STUDY, LOMA LINDA:
AAC completed a traffic noise
study for the City of Loma Linda’s widening of Mountain View Avenue.
The portion of Mountain View Avenue that was being widened was the
southbound lane from Prospect Avenue north to Van Leuven Street. AAC
principals met with Caltrans and the City of Loma Linda Public Works
Department to kick-off the project and to identify key receptor
locations. The noise study included ambient monitoring of existing
traffic noise and rail noise, and future traffic noise modeling
using Caltrans’ Sound2000 traffic noise model. The results of the
analyses and impact assessment were summarized into a noise study
report per Caltrans’ Traffic Noise Protocol requirements. |
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WASHINGTON STREET SOUND
ATTENUATION STUDY, CITY OF LA QUINTA:
AAC recently completed a
sound attenuation study for the City of La Quinta to evaluate
existing and future traffic noise along Washington Street. The study
area began at approximately Avenue 48 and extended south to Avenue
50. Residences on the west side of Washington Street were the
primary focus of the noise study. AAC principals met with city staff
to identify key locations during the kick-off meeting.
The noise study included long-term and short-term noise
monitoring, exterior-to-interior noise monitoring, and
verification of compliance for an existing soundwall.
Alternative noise abatement measures were evaluated as well as
the associated rough-order-of-magnitude cost estimates. The
results for study were summarized in a noise study report that
was submitted to city staff as well as presented to the City
Council. |
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| EAST
CHAPMAN AVENUE NOISE STUDY, CITY OF ORANGE: AAC conducted a
noise study for the City of Orange to address existing and
future traffic noise and vibration on East Chapman Avenue. The
portion of East Chapman Avenue that was being evaluated begins
at Cannon Street and ends at Newport Boulevard. The study area
was divided into three segments with each segment being treated
as an individual sub-project. AAC principals met with homeowners
from each segment to kick-off the project, provide a layman’s
overview of noise, identify project goals, and disseminate
implementation plans and schedules.
The noise study included long-term and short-term noise
monitoring, exterior-to-interior noise monitoring, and vibration
monitoring. Alternative noise abatement measures were evaluated
as well as the associated ROM cost estimates. A set of noise
contours was also created for each segment. The results for each
roadway segment were summarized in a master noise study report,
encompassing each sub-project report, with a final noise study
presentation given to the City Council. |
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SAN
JOAQUIN HILLS TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR, ORANGE COUNTY: The
San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor (SJHTC) is the
extension of the State Route 73 Freeway from the I-5 freeway in
the City of San Juan Capistrano to Jamboree Road in the City of
Newport Beach. The project provides three general purpose lanes
in each direction, two reversible HOV lanes, a toll system, and
the reservation of an 88-foot median for additional capacity as
warranted. The corridor is one of the first toll roads in the
State of California and passes through the cities of Irvine,
Laguna Hills, and unincorporated areas of Orange County. The
purpose of the noise study was to assess the future noise
impacts for the proposed project and recommend mitigation
measures to comply with FHWA and CalTrans noise abatement
criteria. Detailed barrier designs and analyses for various
sensitive receptors along the corridor based on the specific
topography and condition of each receptor was performed.
Specifications were developed for the soundwall engineers and
design drawings were reviewed for accuracy.
Indoor/outdoor noise measurements were conducted for selected
houses and building acoustical treatment measures were recommended
to mitigate noise impacts. Public hearings, community meetings,
and open houses were held to encourage public participation and
opinions.
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| ROUTE 55
SOUNDWALLS, ORANGE: The 55 Freeway is a major freeway
serving Orange County with residential properties bordering the
freeway right-of-way. A noise study was performed to determine
the need for soundwalls along the roadway to reduce or abate
traffic noise levels at sensitive locations. Extensive noise
monitoring was conducted at residential receptors bordering the
freeway. The topography included at grade, above grade, and
recessed properties. Analysis was performed to determine the
soundwall heights needed to abate traffic noise levels per
CalTrans requirements. These soundwalls were ultimately
constructed of concrete block with heights ranging up to
16-feet. |
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91 FREEWAY
SOUNDWALL STUDY, ANAHEIM: A soundwall study was conducted
for the 91 Freeway to address traffic noise impacts at sensitive
receptors along the corridor. Noise surveys were performed to
quantify existing traffic noise levels at key residential
locations. The majority of residences were at grade with the
roadway. However, a few receptors were above the freeway roadway
elevation. The analysis was performed with CalTrans’ Sound32
traffic noise model. Traffic noise impacts were predicted and
noise abatement in the form of freeway soundwalls was
recommended.
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BASTANCHURY ROAD, FULLERTON: Bastanchury Road is a major
arterial serving the City of Fullerton. The roadway is bordered
by residential and horse properties on the north and south
sides. As part of the environmental documentation, a noise study
was performed to quantify existing and future noise levels from
the proposed widening of the roadway. Residences located on
either side of the road would experience increased noise levels
from the widening of the roadway. Noise measurements were
conducted in the residential neighborhood to quantify existing
sound levels from traffic and background sources. The FHWA noise
model was used to predict future noise levels from the widened
roadway.
Impacts were identified with respect to the local noise
standards. Alternative noise control measures were recommended
to reduce the traffic noise to acceptable levels.
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| ROUTE 74
PROJECT, RIVERSIDE COUNTY: This project proposed the
widening of State Route 74 between the Interstate 15 interchange
in the City of Lake Elsinore and 7th Street in the City of
Perris. The entire length of the project was about 8.5 miles.
The purpose of the noise study was to assess the environmental
impact of highway traffic noise generated by the proposed
project on sensitive receptors and recommend mitigation measures
to reduce the noise impact based on noise barrier design
requirements of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and
CalTrans noise abatement criteria. Future noise levels were
predicted for the alternative which produces the highest noise
levels using the forecasted Level-of-Service ‘C’ traffic for the
future design year. Workshops were held with the public to
address the impact of the project and noise control
alternatives. |
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I-15
RECONSTRUCTION, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH: Over 10 noise studies
were prepared to address traffic noise impacts associated with
the I-15 reconstruction in Salt Lake City, Utah. Noise studies
were prepared to evaluate over 10 segments of the proposed new
roadway. For each noise study, noise measurements were conducted
and an analysis was performed on the proposed new alignment.
Soundwalls were recommended at over 20 locations to mitigate the
noise increases associated with the project. The soundwalls were
analyzed using a version of the FHWA model STAMINA and the Utah
Department of Transportation (UDOT) noise criteria. All
recommended soundwalls achieved at least 5 dB of noise reduction
and provided noise abatement for numerous communities, schools
and churches located along the project’s new alignment.
Public hearings, community meetings, and open houses were
initiated and held to encourage public participation and
opinions.
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VIBRATION
IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF HARBOR FREEWAY TRANSITWAY NORTHERN
TERMINUS, LOS ANGELES: The purpose of this vibration study
was to determine the existing levels of ground-borne vibrations
in the area of the northern terminus of the Harbor Freeway
(I-110) transitway. The focus of the study was to document the
maximum ground-borne vibrations for Orthopaedic Hospital and for
Saint John's Episcopal Church that is caused by truck pass-bys
along I-110. The results of this study were used to develop the
construction vibration monitoring criteria for the construction
of the project transitway. At Orthopaedic Hospital, a number of
electron microscopes are installed and used for various
laboratory and research studies. According to the information
provided by Orthopaedic Hospital, the floor on which the
microscope is standing should be as free from vibrations as
possible. Saint John's Church is an historic building and high
levels of vibration could possibly cause building damage.
Vibration measurements for the Orthopaedic Hospital were
conducted at the shoulder of I-110, at a distance of
approximately 3 m (10 ft) from the edge of the traveled way,
near the main building in a garden bed, on the floor of the room
that housed an electron microscope on the specimen chamber of
the electron microscope, and inside a surgery room. Vibration
monitoring for the Saint John's Church was conducted at the
shoulder of I-110, at the corner of the church main building,
and on the raised church floor in front of the altar.
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| WDI
VIBRATION STUDY, ANAHEIM: A vibration technical study was
prepared to evaluate existing vibration impacts associated with
construction of a parking lot and access road located adjacent
to a high tech electronics manufacturer. Long-term vibration
measurements were conducted to monitor the vibration during
construction and reduction measures were recommended to minimize
the impact during construction. A technical study was prepared
which summarized the results of the monitoring and recommended
direction for minimizing construction impacts to adjacent
sensitive receptors. |
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| MOUNT
HIGHLAND DRIVE SOUNDWALL STUDIES, BUTTE, MONTANA: Two noise
technical studies were prepared to evaluate the existing and
future noise impact associated with the Mount Highland Drive
project in Butte, Montana. Ambient noise measurements were
conducted to establish baseline conditions. Future noise impacts
were predicted with the STAMINA traffic noise model. The noise
impacts at residential receptor locations were assessed and
noise abatement in the form of sound walls was evaluated to
reduce future traffic noise impacts. |
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OUTER
LOOP HIGHWAY SECTION 13 NOISE STUDY, PHOENIX, ARIZONA: The
Outer Loop Highway (OLH) is a 52-mile multi-lane highway which
will form a complete loop around the Phoenix metropolitan area.
Section 13 of the OLH is centered around the intersection with
the Superstition Freeway/SR360. The project involved assessing
the impact of traffic noise generated by alternative
configurations of the OLH interchange and recommending the
location and height of sound walls to meet FHWA requirements.
The alternative interchange configurations included tunneled
ramps and multiple loop ramp alignments. A version of the
Federal highway noise prediction model STAMINA was used for all
noise computations. A detailed analysis was conducted for
specific receptors to evaluate the benefit from double barriers.
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ROUTE 85
SOUNDWALL STUDY, SANTA CLARA COUNTY: A noise study was
initiated by the Santa Clara Traffic Authority for the Route 85
transportation corridor. This corridor is about 18-miles long
and extends from the U.S. Route 101 Freeway in south San Jose to
Interstate Route 280 in Cupertino. The project involved
assessing the impact of traffic noise generated by Route 85 and
recommending preferred location and height of sound walls to
meet CalTrans and FHWA requirements. The CalTrans preferred
highway noise prediction computer model Sound32 was used for all
noise computations. In addition, a detailed analysis was
conducted for selected neighborhoods to evaluate reflected noise
from soundwalls and underpasses. Public hearings, community
meetings, and open houses were initiated and held to encourage
public participation and opinions.
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