technical working group meetingrail+program/twg_ppt... · 2010-10-27 · effects of distance and...

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Technical Working Group Meeting

Peninsula Rail Program

October 21, 2010

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TWG Agenda

• Review of TWG and PWG summaries

• Presentation – Draft EIR/EIS Impact Methodology

for Noise and Visual Analyses

• Statewide update

• Corridor update

• Other Business

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Draft Environmental Impact Report/

Environmental Impact Statement

Methodology for

Noise and Visual Analyses

Rod Jeung, PBS&J

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Noise

• Follows guidelines of the Federal Railroad

Administration (2005 FRA Guidance Manual)

• Identify affected land uses / receptors

• Measure existing noise conditions

• Estimate impact based on relative increase in noise

exposure

• Classify impact based on relative increase in noise:

• Severe

• Moderate

• No impact

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Noise Methodology

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“Typical” Noise Levels with Current

Caltrain Operations (Ldn at 100 feet)*

• Caltrain (no horns): 65 dBA

• Caltrain (no horns) and near aircraft

operations: <76 dBA

• Caltrain (with train horns): 77 dBA

* Ldn is a noise descriptor for a 24-hour noise exposure, taking into account fluctuations throughout the day and

more heavily weighting events between 10pm and 7am to account for greater nighttime sensitivity to noise. This

descriptor is used by FRA to classify impacts to residential uses , hotels, and motels and other land uses that

have nighttime or sleep activities; reflects changes in duration, frequency, and schedule of transit events;

correlates well with the results of attitudinal surveys of residential noise impact; and is commonly used by local

General Plans to define noise/land use compatibility.

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Increase in Noise Levels (in dBA)

that Result in Different Impacts

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Numerous Factors affect Noise Impact

• Noise sources/technology

• Operations• Number of HST,

Caltrain, and freighttrains

• Number of trains during day versus night

• Track profile and train speeds

• Relationship between noise source and receptor• Distance between noise source and

receptor

• Intervening structures

• Ground surface

Effects of Distance and Speed

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Note: HST operations on aerial structures could be 1 to 2 dBA higher than at ground level and if in a trench

could be 5 to 7 dBA lower than at ground level. Sound barriers could further improve these sound levels. This curve reflects

technology from 1995. Newer train designs proposed for the California HST System are expected to be 5 to 6 dBA quieter

than the levels presented above.

Source: FRA High-Speed Ground Transportation Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment, October 2005.

What the EIR/EIS will contain

• Impacts from train operations

• Impacts from stations, maintenance

facility, ancillary facilities, related traffic,

and construction

• Impacts by city with and without

mitigations

• Maps delineating where severe impacts

would occur and mitigation is needed

• Effectiveness of sound walls at reducing

severe impacts

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Aesthetics / Visual Quality

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Aesthetics & Visual Quality Methodology

• Use of local General Plans to identify visual

resources, scenic corridors, and views

• Use of Federal Highway Administration Visual

Impact Assessment

• Use of computer-generated visual simulations from

key vantage points

• Follows guidelines of the Federal Highway

Administration

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Methodology continued

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Visual Setting, Resources, and Character

• Visual surveys, worksheets, and photo-

documentation to rate existing visual resources

and viewers

• Visual typologies identified to establish existing

character

• 125 key viewpoints identified to define potential

effects to views

Six Visual Typologies

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• Impacts from elements that substantially

degrade or obstruct important scenic views from

public areas

• View blockage from a scenic road or interference

with views of important scenic resources

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• Impacts from new structures that are more massive

than existing development

• Loss of visual resources, e.g., rows of trees, historic

resources, open space/parks, landmarks

• Impacts from new light and glare sources and

shadows

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Statewide/Caltrain Update

• ARRA funding

• State budget summary

• Belgian presentation to State Assembly’s Select

Committee on High Speed Rail

Flexib le th inking , re liab le res u lts

Assembly HearingAssembly Select Committee on High

Speed Rail for California

October 6, 2010

High Speed Railway

Lines

Integration

Noise & Vibration

Development

"Information published by TUC RAIL in the present document is

general in nature and non-contractual. All rights reserved.”Joseph M. Borremans

210/06/10 HS lines & the Environment


general in nature and non-contractual. All rights reserved.”

Innova tive des ign of viaduc ts reduc ing cons truc tion depth

Height visible screen

Railway viaduct

Classic design

Railway viaduct

TUC RAIL design




Noise reduction through innovative

design of the viaduct structure

Reduction of the construction depth + noise barrier




Cut-and-cover tunnels

Advantages of the “Cut-and-Cover” techniques:

- reduce landscape impact by restoring the landscape

above the tunnel construction

- reduce noise

- less expensive solution than a complete bored tunnel




Noise reduction panels




Noise reduction panels of natural material

(e.g. wood)




Special damping elastic pads are widely used in very sensitive to vibrations areas (for instance in tunnels, under city, etc.).

Vibra tion reduction

These devices can be

placed between the rail and

the sleepers:

Or under the sleepers

on the platform:

Elastic baseplate pad

rubber sleeper pad




•

• Mass-spring systems can also be used under slab tracks:

•

Vibra tion reduction

Under the balast : Sub-Ballas t mats

In tunne l or on bridge /viaduct

In open track




Development around Brussels South




Development of intermodal transport systems




Development in Antwerp (Central)

Using the existing structure of the old

railway station at Antwerp-Central

→ 2 levels added→ integration of commercial zones

http://intranet.tucrail.local/PicturesArchive/Werven%2520-%2520Chantiers/P6%2520-%2520Noord-zuidverbinding%2520Antwerpen/174_002_overzicht_luchtbeeld.jpg�




Transformation in Liège

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Corridor Update

• Cities/Counties/Agencies

• Caltrain Update

• Supplemental AA addendum

• Visual simulations

• HST station workshops

• Office Hours recap and next round

• PWG meeting format

• BART tour

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Other Business

BART Tour: To reserve a spot, please contact:

Morgan Galli at [email protected]

Next Meeting:

Thursday, November 18

3:00 – 5:00 PM

San Mateo Library, 55 W. Third Ave.

mailto:[email protected]

technical working group meetingrail+program/twg_ppt... · 2010-10-27 · effects of distance and...

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