Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 37 - Transportation and Highways › Part 1 - Mississippi Department of Transportation › Subpart 8501 - Planning › Chapter 03010 - Highway Noise Studies › PURPOSE › 37-1-8501-03010-I - HIGHWAY TRAFFIC NOISE IMPACT STUDY › Section 37-1-8501-03010-I-300

Current through June 25, 2024
MDOT will conduct a Highway Traffic Noise Impact Study
						  for each alternative of Type I projects under detailed study. This study will
						  be re-evaluated and updated during each subsequent phase of project
						  development. The study will include the following:
1.
Identification of existing and
						planned noise sensitive land uses
. An inventory will be made of all
						existing activities, developed lands, and undeveloped lands for which
						development is planned, designed, and programmed, which may be affected by
						noise from the proposed highway. Proposed development will be considered
						planned, designed, and programmed on the date of issuance of building
						permits.
2.
Determination of
						existing noise levels.
The determination of existing noise levels at the
						existing and planned noise sensitive land uses will be made by measuring and/or
						predicting Leq noise levels for the traffic characteristics which yield the
						worst hourly traffic noise impact on a regular basis. Normally at least one
						measurement will be made for every 20 noise sensitive land uses identified.
						Each house, church, school, apartment building, etc, will normally be
						considered to be a separate noise sensitive land use; however, several trailer
						houses in a trailer park or several businesses in the same building may be
						considered to be a single noise sensitive land use. Each measurement will be
						made for a period of at least fifteen minutes with an ANSI-Type 2 or better
						sound level meter or analyzer. Predictions will be made using a prediction
						method approved by the FHWA.
3.
Prediction of design year noise levels
. The Leq noise levels will
						be predicted at existing and planned noise sensitive land uses for each
						alternative under detailed consideration including the no build alternative.
						The predictions will be made using a prediction method approved by the FHWA.
						The predictions will be made for the traffic characteristics which yield the
						worst hourly traffic noise impact on a regular basis.
4.
Determination of traffic noise
						impacts.
Traffic noise impact will be determined at each existing and
						planned noise sensitive land use by comparing the predicted design year noise
						level with the Noise Abatement Criteria (NAC) of 23 CFR 772 and with the
						existing noise level. If the predicted design year noise level approaches
						(comes within 1 dBA) or exceeds the NAC noise impact will occur. Noise impact
						will also occur if the predicted design year noise level substantially exceeds
						the existing noise level (15 dBA or greater).
5.
Examination and evaluation of
						alternative noise abatement measure s for reducing or eliminating noise
						impacts.
Noise abatement measures such as traffic management measures,
						changes in horizontal and vertical alignments, acquisition of property for
						buffer zones, noise insulation of public use or nonprofit institutional
						structures and construction of noise barriers will be considered. The
						feasibility and reasonableness of noise barriers is covered in detail in
						Section V.
6.
Preparation of
						noise study report
. A detailed noise study report will be prepared if
						noise impact is expected to occur at any locations along the route of the
						proposed project. If noise impact is not expected to occur in the vicinity of
						the proposed project, a short summary type noise study report will be prepared.
						The following will normally be included in a detailed noise study
						report:
* [] []INTRODUCTION
* [] []SUMMARY OF RESULTS
* [] []FUNDAMENTALS OF SOUND AND NOISE
* [] []NOISE IMPACT CRITERIA
* [] []NOISE LEVEL MEASUREMENTS
* [] []NOISE LEVEL ESTIMATES
* [] []TRAFFIC
* [] []EXISTING NOISE ENVIRONMENT
* [] []DESIGN YEAR NO-BUILD ALTERNATIVE NOISE
						  ENVIRONMENT
* [] []DESIGN YEAR BUILD ALTERNATIVE NOISE
						  ENVIRONMENT
* [] []TRAFFIC NOISE ABATEMENT
* [] []CONSTRUCTION NOISE ABATEMENT
* [] []FHWA POLICY REGARDING LAND USE DEVELOPMENT AND
						  FUTURE NOISE
* [] []ABATEMENT
* [] []TABLE NO. 1 EXTERIOR NOISE LEVELS
* [] []TABLE NO. 2 TRAFFIC DATA AND Leq CONTOURS
* [] []MAP PROPOSED PROJECT