Noise Barrier Acceptance Criteria: Evaluation Tools

Federal Highway Administration2015PDFTech ReportBowlby, WilliamWilliamson, R.Pratt, G.Kaliski, KennethRSG, Inc.Bowlby and Associates, Inc.Environmental Acoustics, Inc.United States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Planning, Environment, and RealtyFederal Highway Administration (U.S.)United StatesNoise controlSound barrierFeasibility analysisFHWA-HEP-16-016DTFH61-11-D-00028-T12-002DTFH61-11-D00028-0005Second PrintingThis report describes two tools for evaluating the effects on noise abatement decisions caused by changes to the feasibility and reasonableness criteria in state highway agency (SHA) noise policies developed under the FHWA noise regulation in 23 CFR 772. The Noise Abatement Feasibility and Reasonableness Analysis Tool (NAFRAT) uses results from noise barrier designs created with the FHWA Traffic Noise Model Version 2.5. Results are built-in for two designs for each of four actual highway projects or may be user-entered. The analyst may test abatement decisions for one or more designs for a single project against one or more sets of policy criteria or multiple projects\u2019 designs against one or more sets of criteria, including the criterion on the consideration of viewpoints of property owners and residents. The Noise Abatement Reasonableness Sensitivity Analysis Tool (NARSAT) is based on series of 108 cases derived from hypothetical scenarios involving: one, two, and three rows of receptors; three different receptor densities; two different setbacks from the barrier to the first row of receptors; and six different barrier heights. The tools were utilized for research documented in a companion report.99