Recommended Best Practices for the Use of the FHWA Traffic Noise Model (TNM)

Federal Highway Administration2015PDFTech ReportBajdek, ChristopherMenge,Christopher W.Mazur, Ruth AnnePate, AlanSchroeder, JeremyHarris Miller Miller & Hanson Inc.BattelleUnited States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Planning, Environment, and RealtyFerroni, MarkUnited States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Planning, Environment, and RealtyUnited StatesNoise controlTraffic noiseNoise barriersQuality assuranceTraffic distributionBest practicesState government agenciesGeographic information systemsTopographyOptimizationTraffic Noise ModelTNMNoise barrier designHighway noiseNonuniform traffic distributionEffectiveness/cost ratioE/C ratioState highway agencyChecklistNoise study reportThe National MapNational Elevation DatasetFHWA-HEP-16-018DTFH61-11-D-0034Ferroni, MarkFinal ReportFederal-aid highway projects that require a traffic noise analysis must use the latest version of the Federal Highway Administration Traffic Noise Model (FHWA TNM), according to 23 CFR 772.9(a). While the FHWA TNM provides for the accurate prediction of traffic noise levels along the wayside of a highway, accurate results are not necessarily guaranteed. Accurate results depend upon the quality of the input data and the care with which the user replicates objects in the physical world with objects in the virtual world of the FHWA TNM. This study provides TNM users with the best sources for information and input data that are critical to the development of an accurate model of highway traffic noise. This report provides best practices and guidance related to: Sources of quality geospatial and elevation data, including advice for conducting an online search for such data; Traffic distributions across a multiple-lane highway; Noise barrier optimization, and Quality assurance of TNM models and noise study reports.140