5.7 Construction-Related Noise and Vibration Impacts 5.7 Construction-Related Noise and Vibration Impacts A. INTRODUCTION Construction activity associated with the Build Alternative in New Jersey would include cut-and-cover construction under Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen and shaft construction in North Bergen and Hoboken. The shafts would be used as access for tunnels boring and for removal of excavated tunnels material, and then to house fan plants for tunnels ventilation. In New York, in addition to shaft construction, cut-and-cover under West 34th Street and NYPSE station entrances construction would also occur. Using construction equipment reference source noise levels and typical usage factors (this information is contained in the Noise and Vibration Methodology Report in Appendix 4.7), equivalent hourly sound level (Leq(h)) noise levels have been calculated for each of these construction activities: x Shaft construction and excavated material removal from shaft sites: 81 dBA (A-weighted decibel level) at 100 feet; 75 dBA at 200 feet; and 67 dBA at 500 feet. x Cut-and-cover construction: 83 dBA at 100 feet; 77 dBA at 200 feet; and 69 dBA at 500 feet. x NYPSE station entrances: 82 dBA at 100 feet; 76 dBA at 200 feet; and 67 dBA at 500 feet. x Impact pile driving (Lmax – maximum sound level): 90 dBA at 100 feet; 84 dBA at 200 feet; and 76 dBA at 500 feet. The calculated construction Leq noise levels at the nearest sensitive receptors were then compared to the FTA guidelines to determine impact. The FTA construction noise guidelines are 80 dBA for residential receptors during daytime hours and 70 dBA during nighttime hours. For commercial and industrial receptors, the FTA construction noise guidelines are 85 dBA and 90 dBA, during daytime and nighttime hours, respectively. Vibration levels during various construction activities have also been calculated, and they would be below the U.S. Bureau of Mines building damage criterion of 2.0 inches/second, and 0.5 inch/second for historic buildings: x Impact pile driving: 0.664 to 1.5 inches/second at 25 feet; 0.0805 to 0.1898 inch/second at 100 feet; 0.0285 to 0.0671 inch/second at 200 feet; and 0.0074 to 0.0170 inch/second at 500 feet. x Vibratory pile drivers: 0.17 to 0.73 inch/second at 25 feet; 0.0213 to 0.0918 inch/second at 100 feet; 0.0075 to 0.0324 inch/second at 200 feet; and 0.0019 to 0.0082 inch/second at 500 feet. x Bulldozer: 0.089 inch/second at 25 feet; 0.0111 inch/second at 100 feet; 0.0039 inch/second at 200 feet; and 0.0010 inch/second at 500 feet. x Heavy truck: 0.076 inch/second at 25 feet; 0.0095 inch/second at 100 feet; 0.0034 inch/second at 200 feet; and 0.0009 inch/second at 500 feet. x Jackhammer: 0.035 inch/second at 25 feet; 0.0044 inch/second at 100 feet; 0.0015 inch/second at 200 feet; and 0.0004 inch/second at 500 feet. x Blasting (from a 30-pound charge): 5.0 inches/second at 25 feet; 0.787 inch/second at 100 feet; 0.236 inch/second at 200 feet; and 0.059 inch/second at 500 feet. 5.7-1 Access to the Region’s Core FEIS For the tunnel boring machines (TBM), empirical vibration data has been obtained for representative- sized TBMs that would be deployed for the proposed underground and underwater tunnels in New Jersey, the Hudson River and New York City under various soil and rock conditions representative of the project area. These values are shown in Table 5.7-1. TABLE 5.7-1: TBM VIBRATION LEVELS TBM Type Medium PPV (in/sec) Small diameter Bedrock 0.012 at 25 feet 0.0015 at 100 feet 0.00053 at 200 feet 5 to 6 meter diameter Bedrock 0.22 at 16 feet 0.09 at 33 feet 0.03 at 66 feet 0.02 at 82 feet 0.015 at 100 feet 0.0052 at 200 feet 5 to 6 meter diameter Glacial till/dense sand 0.12 at 16 feet 0.05 at 33 feet 0.02 at 66 feet 0.01 at 82 feet 0.008 at 100 feet 0.003 at 200 feet 5 to 6 meter diameter Soft river silt/clay 0.004 at 33 feet 0.003 at 66 feet 0.001 at 82 feet 0.0008 at 100 feet 0.0003 at 200 feet 8 meter diameter Bedrock 0.319 at 16 feet 0.131 at 33 feet 0.044 at 66 feet 0.029 at 82 feet 0.020 at 100 feet 0.0072 at 200 feet 8 meter diameter Glacial till/dense sand 0.174 at 16 feet 0.073 at 33 feet 0.029 at 66 feet 0.015 at 82 feet 0.011 at 100 feet 0.0039 at 200 feet 8 meter diameter Soft river silt/clay 0.0058 at 33 feet 0.0044 at 66 feet 0.0015 at 82 feet 0.0011 at 100 feet 0.0004 at 200 feet Source: Transit Link Consultants, 2008. These values are referenced, as applicable, within the following subsections. The vibration levels used in the FEIS analysis for the TBM reflect data for the larger diameter units operating in various soil conditions. 5.7-2 5.7: Construction-Related Noise and Vibration Impacts Where discussed in relation to noise impacts throughout the project area as well as for proposed mitigation (Section E), noise barriers were assumed to be constructed of wood having a density of at least 4-pounds/square inch (e.g., ¾-inch thick plywood) to provide a transmission loss greater than the expected reduction in the noise diffracted over the top of the barrier. The barriers would be positioned atop a Jersey Barrier curb or would be supported by structural posts or guys. B. NEW JERSEY Compliance with local municipal ordinances and NJDEP noise regulations is required. NJDEP noise regulations (Chapter 29 – Noise Control) establish sound level limits of 65 dBA during daytime hours (7:00 AM to 10:00 PM) and 50 dBA during nighttime hours at nearest receptors. These noise limits for stationary sources were used to assess the construction and operational noise from the proposed fan plants/construction access shafts in New Jersey (Tonnelle Avenue and Hoboken). NJDEP noise regulations exempt construction noise from these limits, with the exception that construction work shall not occur between the hours of 6:00 PM and 7:00 AM on weekdays, or between the hours of 6:00 PM and 9:00 AM on weekends. Construction activity during all other hours is subject to the NJDEP noise limits described above for stationary noise sources. Both the City of Hoboken (Noise Ordinance No. R-447; Chapter 133 Noise Control) and the Town of Secaucus (Noise Ordinance – Chapter 93 Noise Control) also exempt construction noise from their noise regulations as long as the construction activity occurs during daytime hours, typically between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM. Construction of the access shafts would occur during daytime hours. Once the shafts would be completed, the underground tunneling activity would occur. During tunneling operations, the construction activity at the surface of the access shaft would consist of the removal of excavated material from the tunnels and removal of the excavated material from the site by truck. Truck hauling operations at the shaft site would occur between 7:00 AM and 10:00 PM with possible 24-hour operation. Although daytime construction noise is exempt from state and local noise regulations, residential areas are located near the access shaft sites where activities beyond 6:00 PM or 24-hour tunneling operations would occur (see Section E). NORTH BERGEN – TONNELLE AVENUE FAN PLANT/CONSTRUCTION ACCESS SHAFT AND SUBSTATIONS NOISE ASSESSMENT Existing noise levels along Tonnelle Avenue (receptor location R7 in Table 5.7-2) were measured at 77 dBA daytime; nighttime levels were measured at 69 dBA. These high noise levels are due to existing high traffic volumes on Tonnelle Avenue throughout the day and night. The nearest sensitive receptors to the proposed Tonnelle Avenue Fan Plant/Construction Access Shaft, traction power substation, temporary TBM-related substation and Amtrak switching station (the duration of which would be approximately seven years) are the dwelling units on Paterson Plank Road that overlook the project construction site. These dwelling units are approximately 250 feet east of and 70 feet above the proposed Tonnelle Avenue Fan Plant/Construction Access Shaft site. A new substation located on the east side of Tonnelle Avenue would also be constructed on this site. During Palisades tunneling operations, the construction activity at the access shaft would consist of excavating the shaft itself, and then removal of the excavated tunnels material from the shaft, and loading it onto haul trucks for removal from the site. The haul trucks would operate between the hours of 7:00 AM and 10:00 PM, with the potential to operate over 24 hours. During Palisades tunneling operations, and during construction of the fan plant, substations and switching station, noise levels at the dwelling units on Paterson Plank Road would be up to 75 dBA during daytime hours, and 65 dBA during nighttime hours. Although these noise levels would be below the FTA daytime and 5.7-3 Access to the Region’s Core FEIS nighttime construction noise guidelines, they would not be in compliance with the NJDEP construction noise impact criterion of 65 dBA. TABLE 5.7-2: EXISTING MEASURED NOISE LEVELS (dBA) – NEW JERSEY Peak- 24-Hour Nighttime Site Location Municipality Hourly Leq (Ldn) Hourly Leq R3 Secaucus and Henry Streets Secaucus 66 66 R4 Paterson Plank Road North Bergen 71 72 R5 Lewis Street Jersey City 56 58 R7 Curbside location at 1700 Tonnelle Avenue North Bergen 77 69 R8 At Secaucus Road and Henry Streets Secaucus 66 63 R9 Single-family residence on Lewis Avenue Jersey City 56 53 R10 Corner of W.