When am I considered impacted by traf
fic noise?
For residential areas to be considere
d impacted, and therefore warrant investigation of noise abatement, the property must ex
perience
either of the following conditions:
>> Projected year 2040 traffic noise levels reach 66 decibels or greater. 66 dB(A) (A denotes weighted for human hearing) is the volume in which two people can hold a conversation standing three feet apart without needing to raise their voices.
>> Projected year 2040 traffic noise levels are greater than existing noise level by 10 decibels or more.
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When is a noise wall considered reasonable?
Reasonableness refers to the cost effectiveness of the noise wall, where the total surface area of the barrier is divided by the number of benefited receptors (typically one per residence, regardless of number of occupants).
VDOT's approved cost is based on a maximum square footage (1,600 square feet) of abatement per benefited receptor. At least one of the benefitted receptors should receive noise reduction of 7 dB(A) for a barrier to be considered reasonable.
When is a noise wall considered feasible?
A noise wall is considered feasible when its installation is able to reduce projected noise levels by at least 5 dB(A) for at least half of impacted receptors. It must also be able to be physically constructed and maintained based on site conditions and topography to be considered feasible.
Noise wall eligibility is based on Federal Highway Administration and VDOT criteria. Check out more VDOT resources about noise walls online:
