In-Service Performance and Costs of Methods to Control Urban Rail System Noise: Second Test Series Report

Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference Centerhttps://doi.org/10.21949/15267371979PDFTech ReportSaurenman, Hugh J.Shipley, Robert L.Wilson, George PaulDe Leuw, Cather & CompanyJohn A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)United States. Urban Mass Transportation AdministrationUnited States. Urban Mass Transportation AdministrationPennsylvaniaNoiseNoise controlRailroad transportationRapid transitSound levelDamping (Physics)Car wheels (Railroads)WheelsRailroad tracksAcoustic measuring instrumentsAcousticsVibrationDOT-TSC-UMTA-79-33;UMTA-MA-06-0099-80-1DOT-TSC-1053;UM949/R9743The goal of the project is to provide sufficient information to allow a transit system with given track and car conditions and budgetary constraints to determine the mix of available noise control methods which will result in the greatest overall benefit. Included in this benefit evaluation is the reduction of noise radiated to adjacent communities and the reduction of patron noise exposure. This project is designed to provide information on both the long-term and short-term costs and effectiveness of various wheel/rail noise abatement procedures if implemented on typical urban rail systems in the United States. This interim report presents the results of the final four phases of a seven-phase test program to determine the acoustic and economic effectiveness of resilient wheels, damped wheels, wheel truing, and rail grinding for reducing wheel/rail noise on urban rail transit systems.138