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.