Kent Station Parking and Access Improvements Project
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Attachment B Noise Technical Analysis Memorandum Kent Station Parking and Access Improvements Noise Technical Analysis Memorandum 401 South Jackson Street Seattle, WA 98104-2826 September 2019 Table of Contents 1.0 Noise Technical Analysis ........................................................................................................................................... 1 2.0 Fundamental Concepts of Noise ............................................................................................................................ 3 3.0 Fundamental Concepts of Vibration ..................................................................................................................... 7 4.0 Regulatory Setting ....................................................................................................................................................... 8 5.0 Environmental Setting ............................................................................................................................................. 14 6.0 Noise and Vibration Impact Analysis ................................................................................................................. 17 7.0 References ..................................................................................................................................................................... 26 Appendix A Noise Measurements List of Figures Figure 1. FTA Noise Impact Guidelines .......................................................................................................................... 10 Figure 2. Noise Monitoring and Receptor Locations ................................................................................................ 16 List of Tables Table 1. Typical A-Weighted Noise Levels ....................................................................................................................... 5 Table 2. Human Response to Continuous Vibration .................................................................................................... 8 Table 3. Maximum Vibration Levels for Preventing Damage to Buildings......................................................... 8 Table 4. Activity Categories and Noise Abatement Criteria ................................................................................... 11 Table 5. Washington Administrative Code Maximum Allowable Sound Levels ........................................... 12 Table 6. Allowable Short-Term Exceedances of Maximum Allowable Levels ............................................... 13 Table 7. Summary of Noise Monitoring Results ......................................................................................................... 15 Table 8. Commonly Used Construction Equipment Noise Emission Levels ................................................... 18 Table 9. Typical Construction Equipment Vibration Levels .................................................................................. 19 Table 10. FTA Noise Impact Assessment of Operation of the Proposed Parking Garage and Bus Layover Facility ....................................................................................................................................... 20 Table 11. City of Kent Code Impact Assessment of Operation of the Proposed Parking Garage and Bus Layover Facility ............................................................................................................................... 21 Table 12. Traffic Noise Levels due to Realignment of Railroad Avenue N ...................................................... 21 Table 13. Predicted Noise Levels from Construction Activitiesa ......................................................................... 22 Table 14. Construction Equipment Vibration Levels by Distance ...................................................................... 24 Noise Technical Analysis Memorandum - Kent i Kent Station Parking and Access Improvements: Noise Technical Analysis Memorandum List of Acronyms and Abbreviations ADA Americans with Disabilities Act CFR Code of Federal Regulations City City of Kent CNEL Community Noise Equivalent Level dB decibels dBA A-weighted decibels DNL Day/Night Level FHWA Federal Highway Administration FTA Federal Transit Administration FTA Manual FTA Transit Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment Hz Hertz kHz kilohertz Ldn Day/Night Level Leq Equivalent Sound Level Leq(h) Equivalent Sound Level occurring during a 1-hour period Lmax Maximum Sound Level Lxx Percentile-Exceeded Sound Level mPa micropascals NAC Noise Abatement Criteria PPV peak particle velocity Project Kent Station Parking and Access Improvements Project SPL sound pressure level VdB vibration decibels WAC Washington Administrative Code WSDOT Washington State Department of Transportation Noise Technical Analysis Memorandum - Kent ii Kent Station Parking and Access Improvements: Noise Technical Analysis Memorandum 1.0 Noise Technical Analysis Summary This report evaluates noise levels associated with construction and operation of access improvements for the Kent Station Parking and Access Improvements Project (Project). Improvements include a new parking garage, bicycle lockers, crosswalks, proximate bus stop accommodations, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) features. The analysis found that operation of the Project would not exceed Federal Transit Administration (FTA) or City of Kent (City) noise thresholds. Construction of the Project is anticipated to exceed FTA daytime noise guidelines. To address these potential impacts during construction, a noise control plan is recommended to be in place prior to construction. The plan would include best practices to reduce equipment noise levels at the nearest noise-sensitive receivers during construction of the Project. Construction during nighttime hours would be minimized or avoided to reduce the potential for negative community reaction during construction. Introduction Sound Transit, in cooperation with the City, is proposing to construct and operate parking and access improvements for the Kent Station in the City of Kent, Washington. The purpose of this report is to describe the existing noise environment in the area and evaluate potential noise and vibration impacts based on construction and operation of the Project. Based on findings of the impact assessment, recommendations for noise abatement measures are discussed. The FTA Transit Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment Manual (FTA Manual) (Federal Transit Administration 2018) provides FTA guidance for assessment of noise and vibration impacts from construction and operation of transit, parking, and associated facilities. The guidance outlines the requirements for preparation of technical reports. The City regulations and the Sound Transit Design Criteria Manual were also used in the analysis. Project Description The Project would include a new parking garage serving patrons of the Sounder South Rail system at the Kent Station in Kent, Washington. The site of the proposed garage (project site) is bounded by E Pioneer Street on the south, E James Street on the north, BNSF Railway on the west, and a realigned Railroad Avenue N on the east. Construction of the parking garage would require realignment of a portion of Railroad Avenue N between E Pioneer Street and E James Street. The parking garage would have 3 levels and approximately 534 parking stalls. The Project would also include pedestrian, bicycle, and transit amenities adjacent to and near the project site to enhance overall access to the Kent Station and improve safety. As part of final design, the following amenities would be finalized in collaboration with the City and King County Metro as part of their permitting and approval process. The following are the proposed amenities: ▪ Adjacent to the project site, amenities would include painted crosswalks, traffic signals, lighting, and signage. Noise Technical Analysis Memorandum - Kent 1 Kent Station Parking and Access Improvements: Noise Technical Analysis Memorandum ▪ At the intersection of W James Street and 2nd Avenue N, amenities would include a painted curb extension,1 new crosswalks, curbs that are ADA compliant, and rectangular rapid-flashing beacons. Sound Transit and the City will coordinate the improvements at this intersection, given that the City was recently selected to receive Sound Transit System Access Funds for these improvements. ▪ Sound Transit proposes the following traffic-related improvements: • At Railroad Avenue N and E James Street: o Prohibit eastbound left turn from garage’s eastern driveway and pick-up/drop- off loop. o Reconfigure east and west legs of Central Avenue N/E Pioneer Street to have exclusive left-turn lane and shared through/right-turn lane. Revise phasing to include protective and permissive eastbound and westbound left phases. • At Railroad Avenue N/E Smith Street: o Prohibit southbound through and southbound left-turn movements except for buses if needed. • At Central Avenue N/E James Street: o Extend the westbound left-turn pocket length as much as possible without taking property. • At E James Street west of Central Avenue N: o Install a “type c” curb (commonly called “c-curb”) median on E James Street between the eastbound left-turn pocket and the adjacent through lane. ▪ At Railroad Avenue N and W Smith Street, amenities would include installing a painted curb extension, rapid flashing beacons, a hardscape median with pedestrian refuge, restriping of crosswalks, and curbs that are ADA compliant.