DISTRICT ONES APPROACH TO NOISE IN THE SCOPE OF SERVICES DOCUMENT

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DISTRICT ONESAPPROACH TO NOISE INTHE SCOPE OF
SERVICESDOCUMENT
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Noise in the Scope

• The purpose of the Scope of Services Document is
• to
• identify what FDOT needs to have done.
• identify how FDOT wants it done.
• identify when it needs to be done.

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Noise in the Scope

• Scope Options
• 1. Do in accordance with the
• PDE Manual, Part 2,
• Chapter 17 - Noise

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Noise in the Scope

• 2. Write a detailed Scope for each project

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Noise in the Scope

• District One Uses A Detailed Scope to
• Maintain consistency in the noise study reports,
• Reduce variations in the conclusions reached by
  consultants,
• Clarify what is to be done,
• Eliminate unnecessary work by the consultant, and
• Produce a noise study report that is defendable
  to the public.

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Noise in the Scope

• Key Elements of the District One Noise Scope

Noise Traffic Forms and Methodology Meetings
Traffic will be prepared by the CONSULTANT based
upon the approved Traffic Technical Memorandum.
Traffic data will be documented on standard forms
which will be provided by the DEPARTMENT. The
completed forms must be reviewed by the
DEPARTMENT before proceeding with the Analysis.
In addition, a methodology meeting with the
DEPARTMENT will be required prior to the
initiation of activities. The noise impact
analysis and noise abatement evaluation shall be
performed by or supervised/reviewed by a
person(s) who has attended and is certified
through the Departments Traffic Noise Analysis
training course. The FHWA approved Noise Model,
TNM (Traffic Noise Model) version 2.5 (or most
current version) will be used for noise analysis.
At the noise methodology meeting with the
DEPARTMENT, the noise specialist will be provided
examples and information on the traffic noise
component of the public involvement process.

• Traffic Data
• LOS C for main roadways
• LOS C or actual for ramps
• The Methodology Meeting
• Required early in the project
• Clarifies key aspects of the noise study process
• Use of TNM (latest version)
• Certified noise specialist
• Provides the consultant with examples of D-1
  information related to public
• involvement
• This will be covered in detail in the next
  presentation.

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Noise in the Scope

• Key Elements of the District One Noise Scope -
  continued

Elevation Accuracy The CONSULTANT shall make a
determination as to the availability and accuracy
of elevation data needed to perform the noise
impact analysis and noise abatement evaluation.
The CONSULTANT shall review existing elevation
data and elevation data to be provided under
Section 2.3 (Survey) to determine if elevations
for roadways, existing berm/walls, receiver
points and ground level where noise barriers may
be evaluated can be established within /- 2 feet
of the actual field conditions observed through a
field review. In coordination with the
DEPARTMENT, the CONSULTANT shall determine the
location of additional spot elevations needed to
adequately simulate project conditions in the
noise model.

• Elevation Accuracy
• Why is this important?
• Improves modeling accuracy
• Provides more realistic preliminary
  determination
• Provides a smooth transition into design

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Noise in the Scope

• Key Elements of the District One Noise Scope -
  continued

Outdoor Advertising Identification The
CONSULTANT shall identify potential visual
impacts that any potential noise barrier may have
on existing legally permitted outdoor advertising
signs consistent with the requirements of Part 2,
Chapter 17 of the PDE Manual and Florida Statute
479.25. The CONSULTANT shall perform a search of
the Outdoor Advertising database found at
http//www2.dot.state.fl.us/RightOfWay/dbhome.asp
to verify whether any identified outdoor
advertising sign in the vicinity of a potential
noise barrier is legally permitted under the
requirements of 479.25 F.S. The results of this
determination will be coordinated with the
Outdoor Advertising Section of the Office of
Right of Way in Tallahassee. The CONSULTANT shall
document potential conflicts for each reasonable
and feasible noise attenuation barrier in the
Noise Study Report.
Outdoor Advertising Identification

• Why is this significant?
• Potential impacts on billboards
• Complexity of compliance with F.S. 479.25
• Identify the requirements for addressing this
  issue
• How is this to be accomplished?
• Coordinate with ODA
• Document conflicts

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Noise in the Scope

• Key Elements of the District One Noise Scope -
  continued

Public Involvement Activities
Workshop and Hearing Requirements The
CONSULTANTs certified noise specialist shall be
present at the Public Workshop and the Public
Hearing. The noise specialist shall have a
designated station at the Public Workshop and the
Public Hearing, identified by a placard, to
address public comment. The CONSULTANT will be
prepared to discuss the potential for noise
impacts at the Public Workshop, utilizing
generalized noise contours and/or field review
data identifying noise sensitive sites. The
CONSULTANT will be prepared to discuss the
results of the traffic noise impact analysis and
noise abatement evaluation at the Public Hearing
through reference to a draft Noise Study
Report. In addition to the Public Workshop and
Public Hearing, the CONSULTANT may be required to
hold and/or attend up to four (4) additional
Public Meetings with the adjacent communities to
discuss the DEPARTMENTs policies and procedures
and other technical issues concerning noise. The
Noise Specialist and the Project Manager will be
expected to attend these meetings. The
CONSULTANT will be responsible for required
presentation materials. Noise Handout The
CONSULTANT shall prepare the following to aid the
public in understanding the noise evaluation
process. All materials are to be reviewed and
approved by the DEPARTMENT prior to the Public
Workshop and Hearing. Handout giving a brief
overview of the traffic noise evaluation process
and the Traffic Noise Evaluation Schedule
(example available from the DEPARTMENT). A set
of aerials identifying noise sensitive sites.
Concept plans which adequately display each
viable alternative and the location of noise
sensitive sites. Concept plans will include
community and road names. All communities
and roads discussed in the report will be shown
on the concept plans. For the Public Hearing,
a table summarizing the noise sensitive sites
that would be affected by each alternative.
Other materials as requested by the DEPARTMENT.
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Noise in the Scope

• Key Elements of the District One Noise Scope -
  continued

Public Involvement Activities

• 1. Public Workshop
• Noise specialist to be present
• Have a designated noise table
• Have generalized noise contours
• Have field results and land use available
• Prepare a noise brochure

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Noise in the Scope

• Key Elements of the District One Noise Scope -
  continued

Public Involvement Activities

• 2. Public Hearing
• Noise specialist to be present
• Have a designated noise table
• Have a detailed draft NSR available
• Prepare a noise brochure

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Noise in the Scope

• Key Elements of the District One Noise Scope -
  continued

Public Involvement Activities

• 3. Unscheduled Noise-related Meetings
• Identifies the number of unscheduled
  noise-related meetings with the public that the
  District anticipates for the project
• Identifies who will be available to participate
  in these meetings

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Noise in the Scope

• Key Elements of the District One Noise Scope -
  continued

Report The entire noise analysis process will
be documented in a Noise Study Report.
Departments Primary Reference Document for
Public Questions and Answers

• Key points addressed in the Noise Study Report
  include
• Regulatory requirements
• Procedures/Methodology implemented
• Locations/Areas evaluated for traffic noise
  impacts
• Identification of areas where noise abatement
  must be considered
• Commitments concerning further analysis of noise
  barriers (PDE phase)
• Commitments concerning construction of noise
  barriers (Design phase).
• Details on the content of the NSR will be
  agreed to during the methodology meeting.

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Noise in the Scope

Summary of Benefits

• Reduces concerns at the Scoping Meeting
• Improves manhour and fee estimates
• Reduces variability with the noise study process
• Improves the quality of the final NSR
• Generates more uniform conclusions in the NSR
• Better defines the role of the noise specialist
• Results in improved accuracy of noise modeling

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Noise in the Scope
Questions?
Contact Jeffrey W. James District
One 863.519.2625 JeffreyW.James_at_dot.state.fl.us