Noise Characteristics:
Noise is evaluated with several considerations, including level,
character, duration, the time of day, and frequency of occurrence.
The level of a noise is measured, expressed, and weighted for certain
characteristics of human hearing in decibels (dBA).
Municipal Noise Ordinances:
The New Rochelle Code specifies sound level standards for different
zoning districts and activities in the city. For the Fifth Avenue
area, a receiving land use located in a M-1 district with a residential
district boundary, the standard is L10 of 60 dBA. For a construction
site in a manufacturing district, the standard is 80 dBA. The New
Rochelle Code prohibits "unreasonable noise" between 10:00
PM and 6:00 AM.
The neighboring town,
Mamaroneck's Noise Ordinance does not specify maximum allowable
sound levels for different zoning districts or activities, but it
prohibits noise that disturbs peace and quiet in the town.
Noise Monitoring Methodology:
Noise monitoring took place in the following 5 intersections that
were identified based on projected increases in traffic volumes
(the numbers correspond to locations identified in Chapter 3.9 of
the DEIS, Transportation and Traffic):
Site 1: Fifth Avenue
& Portman Road; New Rochelle
Site 2: Fifth Avenue & Valley Place / MacLeay Apt. Bldgs., New
Rochelle
Site 9: Fifth Ave & Potter Ave (+ single family residence at
15 Potter Ave); New Rochelle
Site10: Madison Avenue & New Jefferson Street/I-95 interchange
17, Mamaroneck
Site 22: Petersville Road and Palmer Avenue; New Rochelle
Each location is within
or adjacent to residentially zoned areas. Measurements were recorded
between 15 and 20 minutes in length to establish a representative
interval.
Existing Noise Sources:
¡¤ Auto and truck traffic on I-95 (the most dominant
source of noise)
¡¤ Auto, bus, and truck traffic on Fifth Avenue
¡¤ Noise from buses entering and exiting the parking
lots in or adjacent to Fifth Avenue area during weekday early mornings,
midday and afternoons
¡¤ Train traffic on the railroad line adjacent to I-95
¡¤ Commercial and industrial land uses
¡¤ Pedestrian activity along sidewalks and park areas
The primary sources of
noise for each site are as follows:
Site 1: Truck and car traffic on Fifth Avenue, idling vehicles,
pedestrian activity
Site 2: School bus traffic in and out of Valley Place, truck and
car traffic on Fifth Ave
Site 9: Truck and car traffic on Fifth Avenue, vehicle acceleration
noises at hill, from I-95
Site 10: Vehicle noises at intersection, noise from I-95, train
noise
Site 22: Vehicle noises at intersection, noise from I-95, train
noise
Site A: Vehicle noise from I-95, train noise
Site B: Vehicle noise at intersection,
Site C: Vehicle noise from I-95, train noise
Site D: Pedestrian activity, vehicle noise from I-95
Site E: Vehicle noise on Chatsworth Ave
Noise Levels: Existing
Condition: Noise impacts are considered significant when ambient
noise levels (Leq) are projected to increase more than 5 dBA, which
is likely to evoke sporadic complaints from the community.
The study found existing
ambient noise levels (Leq) at the 10 locations range from 52.7 to
69.2 dBA.
At two locations, the
Leq exceeds 67 dBA, which is the noise abatement level set by the
FHWA. The locations are site #9 and #22. Vehicle noise from I-95
is cited as a major contributor to the existing noise at each of
these locations. The DEIS goes further to explain that measurements
at site #9 were taken 50 feet from the intersection, while the closest
residential building at the MacLeay Apartments is located approximately
200 feet from this intersection. It argues that the exterior ambient
noise levels at the closest apartment building would be approximately
6.0 dBA lower than the measurements, because noise levels drop as
distance from the noise source increases. Also, the DEIS points
out that there is a reduction in areas with soft ground, such as
the grassed area in front of the apartment buildings.
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