Noise Discipline Report Addendum

254 Pages·2011·13.83 MB·English

FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
AND FINAL SECTION 4(f) AND 6(f) EVALUATIONS
SR 520 BRIDGE REPLACEMENT AND HOV PROGRAM
MAY 2011
SR 520, I-5 to Medina: Bridge Replacement and HOV Project
Noise Discipline Report

Addendum and Errata

SR 520, I-5 to Medina:
Bridge Replacement and HOV Project
Final Environmental Impact Statement
and Final Section 4(f) and 6(f) Evaluations

Noise Discipline Report

Addendum and Errata

Prepared for
Federal Highway Administration
Washington State Department of Transportation

Consultant Team
Parametrix, Inc.
CH2M HILL
HDR Engineering, Inc.
Parsons Brinckerhoff
ICF Jones & Stokes
Confluence Environmental Company, Inc.
Michael Minor and Associates
PRR, Inc.
Critigen

May 2011

Contents

Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................... 1 

What is the purpose of this addendum? ........................................................................................... 1

What key issues were identified in the public and agency comments on the SDEIS? ............... 1

What are the key points of this addendum? ..................................................................................... 1 

What is the SR 520, I-5 to Medina: Bridge Replacement and HOV Project? ................................ 4 

What is the Preferred Alternative? .................................................................................................... 4 

When will the project be built? ......................................................................................................... 10 

Are pontoons being constructed as part of this project?............................................................... 11 

Noise Analysis Overview .............................................................................................................................. 11 

What is sound (noise)? ....................................................................................................................... 11 

When is a noise study performed? .................................................................................................. 14

What were the methods used to evaluate the potential effects and how have they

changed since publication of the SDEIS? ..................................................................................... 14

What project coordination was performed? ................................................................................... 16

What criteria are used to evaluate potential effects? ..................................................................... 17

Affected Environment .................................................................................................................................... 19

What were the updates to the affected environment? .................................................................. 19

How do other local projects affect the results of this study?........................................................ 20

What are the existing sound characteristics of the study area? ................................................... 21

Why are the sound measurements conducted? ............................................................................. 26

Where are the sound measurement locations?............................................................................... 26

What methods were used for the sound measurements? ............................................................. 26 

What methods were used for the noise modeling? ....................................................................... 26

Where are the noise modeling locations? ....................................................................................... 27

What are the existing peak-hour traffic noise levels? .................................................................... 28 

Potential Effects............................................................................................................................................... 29

How would construction of the project affect noise levels? ......................................................... 29

How would operation of the project affect noise levels? .............................................................. 42

Noise Abatement ............................................................................................................................................. 73

What has been done to avoid or minimize negative effects from noise? ................................... 73

What noise walls are recommended for the Preferred Alternative? ........................................... 77

What construction noise abatement and vibration mitigation is normally considered? ......... 88

What negative effects would remain after noise abatement? ...................................................... 90 

References ........................................................................................................................................................ 91

FEIS_NOISEDRA_SUDS_29APR11 iii
SR 520, I-5 to Medina: Bridge Replacement and HOV Project | Final EIS and Final Section 4(f) and 6(f) Evaluations
Attachments

1 Noise Discipline Report Errata
2 Residential-Equivalent Calculations for the Project Study Area
3 Noise Modeling Locations, Levels and Changes in Project Study Area
4 WSDOT Special Noise Barrier Applications Phase II
5 Noise Model Validation Summary for the Project Study Area
6 Capital Hill Noise Wall Review
7 Comparison of Modeled Noise Levels: Preferred Alternative with Options A, K, and L

List of Exhibits
1 Number of Residences or Residential Equivalents Where Noise Levels Would Approach or
Exceed NAC
2 Rounding the Preferred Alternative Effects with Noise Walls
3 Preferred Alternative Project Elements
4 Preferred Alternative and Comparison to SDEIS Options
5 Preferred Alternative Construction Stages and Durations
6 Sound Levels and Relative Loudness of Typical Noise Sources
7 FHWA and WSDOT Noise Abatement Criteria Table
8 Neighborhood Designations Used in Analysis (Update to Exhibit 11 of the 2009 Discipline
Report)
9 Washington State Noise Control Regulation
10 Washington State – Exemptions for Short-Term Noise Exceedances
11 City of Seattle – Maximum Permissible Sound Levels
12 City of Seattle – Exemptions for Short-Term Noise Exceedances
13 City of Seattle – Allowable Exceedances for Construction and Equipment Operations
14 City of Seattle – Maximum Noise Levels for Impact Types of Construction Equipment
15 Peak Particle Velocity Guidelines
16 Construction Equipment List, Use, and Reference Maximum Noise Levels
17 Noise Levels for Typical Construction Phases at 50 Feet from Work Site
FEIS_NOISEDRA_SUDS_29APR11 iv
SR 520, I-5 to Medina: Bridge Replacement and HOV Project | Final EIS and Final Section 4(f) and 6(f) Evaluations
18 Estimated Hourly Maximum Construction Noise for Different Distances from Construction
Site
19 Estimated Typical Maximum Pile-Driving Noise Levels, Assuming 105 dBA at 50 Feet
20 Maximum Pile-Driving Noise in the Study Area
21 Traffic Noise Modeling Locations and Levels in Portage Bay, Roanoke, and North Capitol
Hill Neighborhoods
22 Traffic Noise Modeling Locations and Levels in Montlake North
23 Traffic Noise Modeling Locations and Levels in Montlake South
24 Traffic Noise Modeling Locations and Levels in the University of Washington
25 Traffic Noise Modeling Locations and Levels in the Washington Park Arboretum, Madison
Park, and Laurelhurst Neighborhoods
26 Traffic Noise Modeling Locations and Levels in the Medina North and South
Neighborhoods
27 Sound Level Changes in the Study Area
28 Preferred Alternative 2030 Peak-Hour Traffic Noise Levels for Portage Bay/Roanoke
29 Preferred Alternative 2030 Peak-Hour Traffic Noise Levels for North Capitol Hill
30 Preferred Alternative 2030 Peak-Hour Traffic Noise Levels for Montlake North of SR 520
31 Preferred Alternative 2030 Peak-Hour Traffic Noise Levels for Montlake South of SR 520
32 Preferred Alternative 2030 Peak-Hour Traffic Noise Levels for the University of Washington
33 Preferred Alternative 2030 Peak-Hour Traffic Noise Levels for the Washington Park
Arboretum
34 Preferred Alternative 2030 Peak-Hour Traffic Noise Levels for Madison Park
35 Preferred Alternative 2030 Peak-Hour Traffic Noise Levels for Laurelhurst
36 Preferred Alternative 2030 Peak-Hour Traffic Noise Levels for Medina North of SR 520
37 Preferred Alternative 2030 Peak-Hour Traffic Noise Levels for Medina South of SR 520
38 Locations of 4-foot Tall Concrete Traffic Barriers with Noise-Absorptive Materials for the
Preferred Alternative in the I-5 to West Approach Area
39 Sound Level Changes in the Medina Area with Noise Abatement
40 Noise Wall Locations and Heights for the Preferred Alternative in the Eastside Transition
Area
FEIS_NOISEDRA_SUDS_29APR11 v
SR 520, I-5 to Medina: Bridge Replacement and HOV Project | Final EIS and Final Section 4(f) and 6(f) Evaluations
41 Noise Wall Performance Summary for Preferred Alternative
42 Details and Cost Analysis for Preferred Alternative Noise Walls

FEIS_NOISEDRA_SUDS_29APR11 vi
SR 520, I-5 to Medina: Bridge Replacement and HOV Project | Final EIS and Final Section 4(f) and 6(f) Evaluations
Acronyms and Abbreviations

ANSI American National Standards Institute
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
dB decibel
dBA decibel, A-weighted
EIS environmental impact statement
FHWA Federal Highway Administration
HCT high-capacity transit
HOV high-occupancy vehicle
I-5 Interstate 5
Leq equivalent sound level
KCC King County Code
mph miles per hour
NAC Noise Abatement Criteria
NIST National Institute of Standards and Testing
NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NWFSC Northwest Fisheries Science Center
SDEIS Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement
SR State Route
TNM Traffic Noise Model
USDOT U.S. Department of Transportation
WAC Washington Administrative Code
WSDOT Washington State Department of Transportation
FEIS_NOISEDRA_SUDS_29APR11 vii