Acoustics, Noise, Vibration and Air Quality

I-290/Eisenhower Expressway Improvements, EIS and Noise Studies

gzachris — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 18:47:29 +0000

I-290/Eisenhower Expressway Improvements, EIS and Noise Studies

Chicago, IL

gzachris Mon, 01/22/2024 - 13:47

Challenge

The Interstate 290 (I-290) Eisenhower Expressway improvement project, involving reconstruction and/or upgrades for the congested, 50-year-old multi-modal corridor, has a long history and has proceeded in phases commensurate with available funding. Public scrutiny of the project is high, particularly for the traffic noise. The high-profile nature of the project, dense urban development through which the project corridor extends, and length of the project corridor—from the western Chicago suburbs to downtown Chicago—added complexity to the project’s traffic noise analysis.

Solution

The scope of our analysis was massive. Over 10,000 individual receptors were studied. Four project alternatives were examined for traffic impacts, and then the preferred alternative was studied for traffic impacts as well as noise abatement analysis. Based on public comments, sensitivity analyses in particularly dense residential areas and for a nearby Chicago Parks District property were completed to determine the traffic noise consequences of various alternatives. Nearly all land adjacent to the I-290 study corridor was found to have traffic impacts in the future condition. Of 92 noise walls analyzed, 63 were deemed feasible, met IDOT’s noise reduction design goal, and were cost effective. Viewpoint solicitation packages were developed for those who would receive a noise reduction benefit from the noise walls. ��Ϸ�� also worked with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to develop materials for “noise forums�� at which votes were cast for available noise wall alternatives. With great focus from the public, alternatives changed frequently through the project in response to the Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) process.

In addition to the traffic noise analysis, our natural resources and permitting experts completed a wetland analysis, tree survey, natural resources review, threatened and endangered species analysis, and water quality analysis, and we worked closely with the project’s engineering team to develop the floodplains analysis for the EIS.

Benefit

GZA’s team was uniquely capable of tackling a project of this scope and sensitivity, delivering a state-of-the-art technical report and working closely with the public and agencies throughout the noise analysis process to address heightened concerns about traffic noise impacts. Our noise expertise was augmented by the firm’s multi-disciplinary capacity, providing other key services for the EIS.

A Supplemental EIS and update to this 2019 EIS commenced in 2023.

Traffic Noise Model (TNM)
Traffic noise and noise abatement analyses
EIS
High profile
Extensive public outreach, “noise forums��
Dense urban environment
Exceptionally large project area
Significant traffic impacts anticipated for adjacent land
��Ϸ��tlands, floodplains
Natural resources, vegetation survey

Government

Land Use and Environmental Planning

IDOT High Speed Rail Project - Chicago to St. Louis Tier 1 and 2 EIS and Environmental Services

gzachris — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 18:39:27 +0000

IDOT High Speed Rail Project - Chicago to St. Louis Tier 1 and 2 EIS and Environmental Services

Illinois to Missouri

gzachris Mon, 01/22/2024 - 13:39

Background

GZA contributed to the Illinois Department of Transportation’s (IDOT’s) Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 284-mile-long Intercity High Speed Rail (HSR) Project between Chicago and St. Louis and Tier 2 EIS for related regional rail projects. Improvements to existing rail corridors and stations are being completed to accommodate the high-speed trains.

Challenge

GZA completed environmental studies and document preparation related to wetlands, threatened and endangered species, bat habitat assessments, prairie characterization surveys, flora, mussel, avian, insect, and herpetofauna surveys. ��Ϸ�� also provided noise monitoring to assess potential impacts to grassland birds. The length of the corridor and varied and brief timeframes for species surveys made the project more challenging.

Solution

GZA addressed many aspects of potential impacts along the extensive project corridor: completed multiple threatened and endangered (T&E) species surveys; prepared a Conservation Plan and Biological Assessment for several species; completed wetland delineations and complex permitting; and conducted noise monitoring to assess impacts to grassland birds. Numerous on-site surveys for sensitive natural resources were conducted along rail segments between 2010 and 2021. Numerous documents were prepared for submittal to regulatory agencies.

Benefit

GZA provided the necessary natural resources expertise, project management, and capacity for this vast project to secure all necessary permits with no delay to the tight construction schedule.

This project, started by Huff & Huff prior to its acquisition by GZA, has continued as a GZA project.

Natural resources consulting
Noise monitoring
T&E species, flora, prairie, herpetofauna, avian surveys
Federally funded
Review and preparation of NEPA documents and 4(f) statements
Permitting agencies include IDNR, USFWS, IEPA, and USACE

Illinois

Government

Land Use and Environmental Planning

CREATE Program Environmental Analysis, and Train Noise and Vibration Analysis

gzachris — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 18:24:56 +0000

CREATE Program Environmental Analysis, and Train Noise and Vibration Analysis

Statewide, IL

gzachris Mon, 01/22/2024 - 13:24

Background

The Chicago Regional Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) program improvements are intended to reduce congestion experienced by freight and passenger rail lines throughout the Chicago area. GZA has evaluated noise, vibration, special waste, and natural resource impacts for more than 15 individual CREATE projects. The involvement of multiple regulatory bodies adds complexity: projects are processed through Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) environmental procedures; rail impacts are assessed utilizing Federal Transit Authority (FTA) methodologies for noise and vibration; and FTA screening procedures and General Assessment protocols determine potential receptors and impacts. Our team helped develop streamlined methodologies to satisfy FTA and FHWA/NEPA processes to assess air quality, noise, and special waste for the overall CREATE program.

Challenge

Several projects, including the B4/B5-LaGrange/Bellwood project in Cook County, Illinois, involved signal and switch upgrades and new crossovers to allow increased train speeds and capacity in dense residential areas. Noise, vibration, and loss of tree cover were of particular concern to the public.

Solution

GZA conducted noise and vibration analyses to evaluate the potential impacts of the proposed improvements. Specifically, for the B4/B5 project, 60 receptor locations were analyzed using the general noise assessment; 17 required detailed-assessment-level evaluation; and based on detailed assessment results, noise abatement evaluations were then conducted for those determined to be impacted. Additionally, 11 receptors were analyzed for potential vibration impacts. Our natural resource experts evaluated tree impacts along the corridor. The noise/vibration and tree information was summarized in the environmental document, and we participated in the public hearing.

Benefit

GZA’s contributions to the success of the CREATE program far exceed the noise, vibration, environmental, and natural resources expertise it contributes to individual projects. By developing methodologies that blend the processes of the multiple regulatory bodies involved, we have streamlined the environmental process for all projects in the program.

Some projects in the CREATE program were completed by Huff & Huff prior to its acquisition by GZA.

CREATE rail improvements
Train noise and vibration analyses (FRA/FTA/Highspeed Rail)
Air quality assessment
Special waste assessment
Natural resources services
Permitting at local, state, and federal levels
Transportation Noise Modeling (TNM)
Public outreach
Attenuation recommendations

Illinois

Government

Land Use and Environmental Planning

Bruckner Boulevard School Facility Noise Study

gzachris — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 17:59:36 +0000

Bruckner Boulevard School Facility Noise Study

Bronx, NY

gzachris Mon, 01/22/2024 - 12:59

Background

During redevelopment of this turn of the century ice factory into a charter school facility, a noise E-Designation was required as part of New York City’s CEQR process.

Challenge

The property is situated on a busy section of heavily traveled Bruckner Boulevard and is adjacent to an active aggregate storage yard, surroundings with significant noise levels. Additionally, construction had already commenced, and new facade materials and custom windows had been installed when the noise study was requested. Potential delays caused by the study or mitigation recommendations, if determined to be warranted, would threaten the project’s budget and tight completion schedule.

Solution

GZA noise specialists prepared a protocol and methodologies to collect readings to determine if the facade and new windows met the regulatory requirements of the E-Designation: a minimum of 35 dB(A) window/wall attenuation for all building facades in order to maintain an interior noise level not greater than 45 dB(A), the standard applicable to residential and community facility uses. Readings would be collected for 12 daytime hours, reflecting the building’s new use as a school. The non-standard protocol suggested by GZA was approved by the NYC Office of Environmental Remediation (OER). The monitoring consisted of five interior 12-hour noise monitoring locations and one 1-hour spot check during each AM, Midday, and PM peak travel period located outside the building at street level.

Monitoring results determined that the windows and facade met the requirements of the E-Designation. These findings were detailed in GZA’s Installation Report for Noise, which OER approved, and the project received its Notice to Proceed.

Benefit

GZA responded swiftly to develop a non-standard noise study protocol, pre-approved by OER, that was responsive to the regulatory requirements and the client’s ongoing construction needs.

School facility
Non-standard noise study protocol approved by OER
Noise monitoring
CEQR
E-Designation
Installation Report
Compressed schedule required rapid mobilization

New York

Buildings & Real Estate Development

Land Use and Environmental Planning

Berry Street Battery Energy Storage System Special Permit

gzachris — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 16:50:43 +0000

Berry Street Battery Energy Storage System Special Permit

Brooklyn, NY

gzachris Mon, 01/22/2024 - 11:50

Background

Con Edison’s Water Street Network in Brooklyn is among its oldest electrical distribution networks. It has become stressed by the increasing electrical demands of robust real estate development and is increasingly impacted by extreme weather and coastal flooding events. To bolster the network’s reliability and resiliency, a private micro-utility, with approval from the New York Public Service Commission and Con Edison, proposed construction of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to reduce future brownouts and outages within the network by introducing increased capacity, flexibility, and control into the power microgrid.

Challenge

Construction of the BESS on the roof and exterior ground floor level of an existing seven-story residential building on Berry Street in densely populated, historic Brooklyn Community District 1 required a Special Permit (BSA §73-14) from the City of New York. It is the first such permit requested for a residential building. Residents of the building expressed numerous concerns which GZA’s planners addressed in the CEQR process.

Solution

GZA’s CEQR documentation included acoustic/noise/vibration studies; visual assessment and urban design; fire and blast analyses; extremely low frequency wave (ELF) generation analysis; and professional testimony.

The comprehensive acoustic/noise/vibration study included sound monitoring conducted at an existing facility in California to identify the sound generation properties of the components (including storage cubes, transformer, and inverters); using SoundPlan, a sound model was built; data was compared to NYC noise codes; and then tailored, custom-designed mitigations were developed to address exceedances. The visual assessment addressed shadows and urban design recommendations to reduce the visual impact of the facility on the adjacent park. A thorough fire and blast safety analysis was prepared as well as comprehensive research on the impact of ELF generated by the transformers. GZA planners attended public meetings to provide professional testimony on its analyses and findings. Negotiation between the private micro-utility and the building residents continues.

Benefit

GZA’s planners tackled a first-of-its-kind Special Permit, helping navigate the process to create small substations, which experts anticipate will become integral to reliable and resilient power distribution in densely populated urban areas with aging utility infrastructure.

Land use, resiliency planning
CEQR
Special permit (BSA §73-14) �� first of its kind
Microgrid
Acoustic/noise/vibration study
Visual assessment and urban design
Fire and blast analyses
Extremely Low Frequency wave (ELF) generation analysis
Professional testimony

New York

Energy

Land Use and Environmental Planning

Whitestone Residential Development Noise Study

gzadan — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 18:59:52 +0000

Whitestone Residential Development Noise Study gzadan Fri, 08/04/2023 - 14:59

GZA completed a comprehensive noise study during a rezoning process that amended a manufacturing district to a residential district. Several New York City public policies supported the rezoning, including initiatives that promoted affordable housing, equity, economic development, and sustainability.

Challenge

The property, housing a one-story structure, is adjacent to the heavily traveled Whitestone Expressway and is subject to significant vehicular noise. The proposed development would result in a nine-story, 430-unit residential building. While operational aspects of the noise study were readily observable during the rezoning review, determining future construction noise in that phase of the project was a challenge. A remarkably compressed schedule was necessary to achieve project approvals, requiring immediate mobilization of field staff and seamless coordination with the development team and acoustic professionals.

Solution

Noise specialists reviewed operational and construction noise as part of a larger Environmental Assessment effort to determine if those elements would have potential noise impact on the proposed development. Noise monitoring to assess existing vehicular traffic noise was conducted at five locations on the site during peak weekday vehicular travel periods (AM, midday, PM) on a typical midweek day for 20-minute periods. Analysis of field data on existing traffic resulted in window wall attenuation recommendations for the proposed design. Proposed traffic changes caused by the proposed development were also considered and, since the radius of the study area included LaGuardia International Airport, the initial impact analysis also considered aircraft noise; neither of those impacts were deemed to produce significant adverse impacts. While it was challenging to assess the impact of long-term construction on nearby sensitive receptors (low- to medium-density residential buildings), the team drew upon field noise data from comparable, active construction projects in the area to build a detailed acoustical model of monthly construction activity to assess impact. As a result, several construction-related noise mitigation measures were recommended, including a cantilevered construction fence, use of electric (vs. diesel) equipment where possible, minimized idling of vehicles, and alternative equipment for high-noise-generating activities such as pile driving.

Benefit

GZA’s noise study facilitated the project’s rezoning by the New York City Department of City Planning, Environmental Assessment Review Division, contributing to the advancement of multiple public policy initiatives. The noise attenuation recommendations were formalized in the property’s E-Designation, incorporating measures protective of human health into this and any future developments on the site.

Rezoning
Operational noise
Construction noise
Airport noise
Acoustic modeling
Window wall attenuation recommendations
Compressed schedule required rapid mobilization
E-Designation

New York

Buildings & Real Estate Development

Land Use and Environmental Planning