I-4 Ultimate Project Update and Noise Barrier Meeting Project - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

I-4 Ultimate Project Update and Noise Barrier Meeting

Project Location  21 miles through greater Orlando  Two counties  Two water management districts  Several municipalities  Two major funding partners

 4 Managed Lanes  6 General Use Lanes (GUL) + Auxiliary Lane Managed Lanes

Project Goals  Replace aging infrastructure – Corridor is 50 years in age – Bridges projected to become structurally deficient – Pavement deterioration

Project Goals  Create jobs – Construction industry jobs are down since 2007 – Available local labor pool – $1 billion spent on highways supports 28,000 jobs

How To Stay Involved • All Meeting Information on Moving-4-ward website • Sign up on website to stay informed • Community Surveys • www.moving-4-ward.com

Procurement Schedule Shortlist and draft RFP June/July 2013 Final RFP and Instructions to Proposers (ITP) September 2013 Proposals due February 2014 Best value selection April 2014 Financial Close July 2014 Notice to Proceed 1 – Design Fall 2014 Notice to Proceed 2 – Construction NTP1 + ~ 3 months

Project Video Video is available for viewing on the moving-4-ward.com website in the presentations section under: Noise Barrier Meetings Materials

Noise Barriers: Who benefits?  Only homes next to the noise barrier, or within the 200 ft. shadow of the wall will get a noticeable noise reduction  Goal of reduction is 10 decibels with a minimum of 5 decibels

Noise Barriers: Criteria for use  Consideration for the implementation and construction of noise barriers along Interstates is mandated by the Federal Highway Administration and follows certain criteria.  Evaluation for the expansion of Interstate 4 included noise studies to determine areas that would exceed Florida’s Noise Abatement Criterion of 66 decibels (dB)

Noise Barrier: Criteria for use COMMON OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES NOISE LEVEL dB(A) COMMON INDOOR ACTIVITIES Jet Fly-over at 1000 ft ---110--- Rock Band Gas Lawn Mower at 3 ft. ---100--- Diesel Truck at 50 ft., at 50 mph ---90--- Noise Urban Area (Daytime) ---80--- Garbage Disposal at 1 m (3 ft) Gas Lawn Mower at 100 ft. ---70--- Vacuum Cleaner at 10 ft ---66--- Normal Speech at 3 ft Commercial Area ---60--- Large Business Office Heavy Traffic at 300 ft ---50--- Dishwasher Next Room Quiet Urban Daytime ---40--- Theater, Large Conference Room (Background) Quiet Urban Nighttime ---30--- Library Bedroom at Night, Concert Hall Quiet Suburban Nighttime ---20--- (Background) Quiet Rural Nighttime ---10--- Lowest Threshold of Human Source: California Dept. of Transportation Technical Noise Supplement, Oct. 1998, Page 18. Hearing ---0---

Noise Barriers: Reasonableness and Feasibility Factors  “Reasonableness and Feasibility Factors” for the placement of noise barriers are derived from federal guidelines. These determine if a barrier should or should not be placed in a local community.

Noise Barriers: The Myths  Noise barriers are not used to block the view of traffic from their homes. They are strictly for noise abatement.  Noise barriers are not protective barriers. They might slow a car down but are not used for safety purposes. However shoulder mounted barriers have been crash tested.

Noise Barriers: How They Work  There cannot be any openings in the barrier for driveways or roads because it would not be an effective noise barrier.  The noise barriers work by reflecting the sound waves back toward traffic. People on the opposite side of the roadway from the walls will not notice a significant increase in sound if any at all. If there is an increase it is usually between 1-2 dB which is less than the average person can audibly detect.  Barriers are designed to make a 10 dB reduction in sound but may only reach the minimum of 5 dB. Only residents within the 200 ft. shadow of the barrier, depending on the height, will notice a reduction.

Noise Barriers: How They Work  The greatest reduction of noise will be right next to the barrier and the benefit will gradually decrease from there out to the shadow’s edge. As sound waves travel they begin to diminish.

Noise Barrier Advantages and Disadvantages Advantages • Can provide an audible reduction in highway traffic noise to areas directly behind the barrier Can be designed to be aesthetically pleasing from both the highway and • property owner sides of the barrier Can provide privacy from passing motorists • Disadvantages  Can block the view of commercial or landmark signs Can adversely affect existing ornamental vegetation in proximity to the barrier  Trees within the FDOT R.O.W. may be removed in order to construct this noise  barrier Can create nighttime shadow areas  Noise barriers can obstruct breezes and sunlight  Noise barriers may attract graffiti  Noise barriers may reduce, but cannot eliminate, the traffic noise  Noise barriers may present a public safety concern because the view of police  and other safety patrols traversing the highway will be blocked.

Noise Barrier: Shoulder

Noise Barrier: Ground

Recommended Noise Barrier Locations

Conclusion - Questions • Our Presentation is concluded • All Materials from tonight's presentation will be available on the project website at www.moving-4-ward.com • Please take a few moments to view the graphics on display • FDOT and RS&H Staff are on hand to answer any questions you may have