Traffic Noise

[donk]

Not sure if to place this question here or in the housing threads...

I am looking for data / standards related to traffic noise and standards for what is considered acceptable for residential uses. (ie living areas vs sleeping areas)

Or a way to calculate Db based on AADT and AADTT.

I have checked HUD and the CMHC, but nothing really good jumps out at me.

 

[Tranplanner]

I'm trying to remember what we used where I used to work. I'm not sure if they had a set formula or just relied on the engineering firms. I used to have to give them current and ultimate AADTs for whatever roadway they were next to, and then they'd do the math.

I can try to find out more...

 

[Chet]

Shucks it's been years since I've seen them, but I beleive HUD has a set of published standards.

 

[donk]

The only thing I was able to find at HUD was that within 6 feet of the exterior wall the DB reading should be no more then 65 and that inside it should be less, unless I queried wrong.

 

[El Feo]

Sorry if this is where you've already looked

Follow this link to "The Noise Guidebook" from HUD. It's actually for HUD field staff, but you might find some useful info. I know it's what I follow in evaluating applicant projects for HOME funding...

http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/energyenviron/environment/resources/guidebooks/noise/index.cfm

 

[donk]

Thanks, that looks like what I needed. I must have queried around it, or not looked deep enough on the list.

 

[nerudite]

Policies and standards...

Hey donk...

I don't know if this will help or not, but when I worked for the City of Davis CA, I really liked their noise attenuation policies (with good wall/berm designs)... If you are interested you can read the pdf file here.

Good luck

 

[JNL]

I share my office with a noise consultant. Recently I worked with him on a project to investigate "Effects of Road Texture on Traffic Noise and Annoyance at Urban Driving Speeds". The project was formulated as a consequence of public complaints occurring after road surfaces were changed as part of regular street maintenance. We investigated road noise associated with different types of surface, by taking noise measurements of general traffic and control vehicles, and also by surveying residents about their annoyance with road noise. We picked roads that were about to be resealed, and surveyed before and after they were resealed, to pick up on any changes in annoyance. It was found that surface type was significant in influencing traffic noise annoyance of people living next to the roads, and that changes in behaviour could be detected for very small changes in noise, i.e. less than 2dBA. This is significant because current noise models predict only minimal effects of road surface type at urban driving speeds. My colleague has just presented a paper on this research at the Internoise conference in Chicago.

Anyway! getting back on track, I know that one of the major international models for calculating road traffic noise is the CRTN:
Department of Transport (DOT) (Welsh Office) 1988 Calculation Of Road Traffic Noise. Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, London

My colleague is still away at the moment, but if you require any further help, he has lots of information about standards for traffic noise in residential areas.

 

[brunoboris]

Noise Level Legality QUESTION

I have a new a question that may or may not directly relate to the first question by Donk.

I live on a busy street in San Francisco (Guerrero St). Unfortunately all of my apartment windows face the street (except for the bathroom). I've grown accustomed to the general traffic noise, however some noises are excruciatingly loud:

certain motorcycles (Harley-Davidson's?)
big trucks
diesel buses (luckily the local bus that passes is electric)

My question is: If a loud motorcycle goes down the street, could a police officer stop him for excessive noise? Are there laws about how loud a car/truck/bike can be? Would love to know.

Regards,
Brian (Bruno)

 

[Chet]

Noise laws vary by state and local gov't. In my expereince, generally, if it is "necessary noise" and the equipment has not been modified from the factory, a citation will not hold up.

Careful there - don't pick on Harleys! Pick on the irresponsible operators instead.

 

[donk]

For clarity, my question is about long term sustained noise (ie constant traffic noise), not identifiable point source noise (factory, straight pipe bike).

Thnaks for the info so far.

 

[Mabe]

Yes, most states have maximum dB levels that vehicals are allowed to produce, also the DOT has its own standards for new car. I beleive that the DOT's max is 78, but dont quote me on that. Police officers can issue tickets for noisy vehicals, but the problem comes in proving how loud the car or bike is as 99% of police cruisers dont cary equipment to read noise levels. What they can do is write tickets for visiual stuff. Broken exhaust peices, no cats, etc. I'm one of those people with a loud car, Sorry.

 

[Wannaplan?]

Try this article:

http://www.asu.edu/caed/proceedings99/COWAN/COWAN.HTM

"Planning To Minimize Highway Noise Impacts" by James P. Cowan at Acentech, Inc.