NOISE ANALYSIS REPORT for P.I.N. 4531.07 ROUTE 531 TERMINUS IMPROVEMENTS TOWNS OF SWEDEN and OGDEN MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK MAY 2013 Prepared For: STANTEC 61 COMMERCIAL STREET ROCHESTER NY 14614 For Submission To: NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION REGION FOUR 1530 JEFFERSON ROAD ROCHESTER, NEW YORK 14623 95 Perry Street, Suite 300 Buffalo, New York 14203 p: 716.206.5100 f: 716.206.5199 Table of Contents Section Page 1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 1 1.1 SCOPE AND PURPOSE ........................................................................................... 1 1.2 PROJECT LOCATION ............................................................................................ 1 1.3 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................... 1 2.0 DESIGN ALTERNATIVES ....................................................................................... 3 2.1 NULL/NO-BUILD ALTERNATIVE ................................................................................ 3 2.2 BUILD ALTERNATIVES ............................................................................................ 3 3.0 NOISE CHARACTERISTICS ................................................................................... 4 4.0 METHODOLOGY OVERVIEW .............................................................................. 6 5.0 RECEPTOR SITES ................................................................................................. 8 6.0 MODEL VERIFICATION ..................................................................................... 11 6.1 FIELD MEASUREMENTS ........................................................................................ 11 6.2 TNM MODEL VERIFICATION ................................................................................ 11 7.0 PREDICTION OF FUTURE NOISE LEVELS ............................................................ 14 7.1 MODEL INPUTS ................................................................................................. 14 7.1.1 Traffic Volumes and Classifications ........................................................... 14 7.1.2 Vehicle Operating Speeds ........................................................................ 14 7.1.3 Roadway Alignment and Grade ................................................................ 15 7.1.4 Physical Features ..................................................................................... 15 7.2 MODEL RESULTS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT .............................................................. 15 7.2.1 Null/No Build Alternative ......................................................................... 16 7.2.2 Build Alternatives ..................................................................................... 16 7.2.3 Summary Discussion of Impact Assessment ................................................ 17 8.0 NOISE ABATEMENT .......................................................................................... 19 8.1 TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT ...................................................................................... 19 8.2 ALTERATION OF HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL ALIGNMENTS........................................... 20 8.3 CONSTRUCTION OF NOISE BARRIERS ..................................................................... 22 8.4 ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY TO SERVE AS A BUFFER ZONE .................................... 23 8.5 SUMMARY DISCUSSION OF NOISE ABATEMENT ......................................................... 23 9.0 CONSTRUCTION NOISE .................................................................................. 24 10.0 REFERENCES .................................................................................................... 25 H:\Y800\Y8087-RTE 531 EXTENSION\NOISE\REPORT\RT 531 NOISE REPORT V02.DOC May 24, 2013 i List of Tables Page Table 3-1 Common Noise Levels ............................................................................... 5 Table 5-1 Noise Abatement Criteria (NAC) ............................................................... 10 Table 6-1 Field and Verification Model Noise Levels (Leq) .......................................... 13 Table 7-1 Noise Impact Summary - Model Results ..................................................... 18 List of Figures After Page Figure 1 Project Location Map ................................................................................. 1 List of Attachments Attachment A Noise Receiver Locations Attachment B Field Noise Monitoring Logs Attachment C TNM Input and Output Files H:\Y800\Y8087-RTE 531 EXTENSION\NOISE\REPORT\RT 531 NOISE REPORT V02.DOC May 24, 2013 ii 1.0 INTRODUCTION Watts Architecture & Engineering (Watts AE) was retained by Stantec to perform a Noise Analysis for the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), on the Route 531 Terminus Improvements project, Towns of Sweden and Ogden, Monroe County, New York (P.I.N. 4531.07). See Figure 1 for the Project Location Map. 1.1 Scope and Purpose The procedures followed for this report conform to the policies presented in the NYSDOT The Environmental Manual (TEM), Section 4.4.18, "Noise Analysis Policy and Procedures", April 2011 prepared by the NYSDOT Engineering Division - Office of Environment which, in turn, conforms to the Federal noise regulations, Procedures for Abatement of Highway Traffic Noise and Construction Noise, 23 CFR 772 and the Highway Traffic Noise Analysis and Abatement Policy and Guidance dated June 1995. The Route 531 Terminus Improvements project is classified as a 23 CFR 772 Noise Type I project, since the project proposes to construct a new bridge and a roadway in a new location. This type of construction project requires a noise analysis to determine whether noise abatement measures need to be considered. 1.2 Project Location The proposed project is located in the Towns of Sweden and Ogden, Monroe County, New York. The proposed project involves terminous improvements at the location where Route 531 merges and turns into Route 31. The project study area limits for the noise study are shown on Figure 2 in Attachment A. 1.3 Project Description The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) is currently developing and evaluating feasible alternatives to improve traffic conditions at the terminus of Route 531 at Route 36 (Washington Street) and along Route 31 (Brockport-Spencerport Road) in the Towns of Ogden and Sweden, Monroe County. The improvements are intended to improve the transportation service, performance, safety, and efficiency for all modes of travel. Full take right-of-way acquisitions are expected in some areas along Route 31. The project is expected to affect the immediate construction area; however, the reconfiguration of ramps in the area will also have an effect on the traffic volumes of the surrounding roadway network. H:\Y800\Y8087-RTE 531 EXTENSION\NOISE\REPORT\RT 531 NOISE REPORT V02.DOC May 24, 2013 1 N Project Location Project FIGURE 1 – PROJECT LOCATION MAP Location P.I.N. 4531.07 Route 531 Terminus Improvements, Towns of Watts AE Sweden & Ogden, Monroe County, New York 95 Perry Street Source: Microsoft Bing 2011. Buffalo, New York Not to Scale August 2012 The proposed project involves three feasible build alternatives for the new interchange including one "full-diamond” grade-separated option and two at- grade options. Each alternative will also provide geometric and other roadway features to provide a safe transition from a high-speed expressway to a two-lane arterial. NYSDOT is advancing this project by developing an Environmental Assessment (EA). H:\Y800\Y8087-RTE 531 EXTENSION\NOISE\REPORT\RT 531 NOISE REPORT V02.DOC May 24, 2013 2 2.0 DESIGN ALTERNATIVES 2.1 Null/No-Build Alternative This alternative would not construct any of the proposed build alternatives within the study area. It is assumed that the current street configuration would be maintained under this alternative. 2.2 Build Alternatives The Alternatives considered under this project include: . Alternative 1 – Null or “No-Build/Maintenance” alternative . Alternative 2 – Route 531/Route 36 At-grade conventional signalized intersection with traffic calming and safety improvements to Route 31; . Alternative 3 – Route 531/Route 36 At-grade signalized superstreet median crossover with traffic calming and safety improvements to Route 31; . Alternative 4 – Route 531/Route 36 Half diamond interchange with traffic calming and safety improvements to Route 31; . Alternative 5 – Route 531/Route 36 Full diamond interchange with traffic calming and safety improvements to Route 31; . Alternative 6 – Route 531/Route 36 Roundabout with traffic calming and safety improvements to Route 31. However, Alternatives 4 and 6 do not meet the objectives of the project and are being dropped from consideration. Therefore, the Noise analysis will only be performed on Alternatives 1, 2, 3, and 5. Additional information on build alternatives is available in the project Design Approval Document. H:\Y800\Y8087-RTE 531 EXTENSION\NOISE\REPORT\RT 531 NOISE REPORT V02.DOC May 24, 2013 3 3.0 NOISE CHARACTERISTICS Three physical characteristics of noise have been identified as being significant to the determination of noise acceptance: The Intensity, The Frequency, and The Time-Varying Nature of the Noise. Intensity is a measure of the magnitude or energy of the sound and is directly related to pressure level. The human ear is capable of sensing a wide range of