Operational PL Noise and Vibration identifying high-impact locations

in quiet, residential and small-business areas of Silver Spring

Prepared for PLIAG by citizen members from

east Silver Spring neighborhoods30 July 2014

One half mile of sweet residential that Is perfectly quiet at night

Wayne Ave

Beltway

DC.5 mile

You are here

Sil SpringCiv Ctr

DALE

LIBRARY

MANCHESTER

HIGH RISK FOR EXCESSIVE WHEEL SQUEALFrom friction on corners and curves

PL ALIGNMENT JUST IN THIS HALF MILE HAS:THREE HARD TURNS,FOUR LARGE NATURAL CURVES,SLOW IN AND OUT OF THREE PL STATIONS,MOST OF IT BRAKE-RIDING ON A HILL

DOWNTOWNSILVER SPRING

DALE

LIBRARY

MANCHESTER

ADD HIGH RISK FOR EXCESSIVE WARNING HORNSAND SCREECHING STOPS

THE PL ALIGNMENT INTERCEPTS: TEN NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS,45 PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAYSTWO SCHOOLS,TWO CHURCHES PLAYING FIELDS ANDA SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY

HIGH RISK OF EXCESSIVE VIBRATION ON BONIFANT STREET: TRAINS WITHIN A FEW FEET OF SEVERAL DOZEN POPULAR SMALL BUSINESSES

HIGH RISK OF EXCESSIVE VIBRATION ON RESIDENTIAL WAYNE AVE:TRAINS WITHIN FEET OF FRONT DOORS AND YARDSOF 45 PRIVATE HOMES ANDTHE LIVING COMMUNITY OF 150 SENIORS

Miles of noise walls

Because trains never cross paths with cars or people here,

there are multiple options for sound absorbing rail beds

No warning horn risk here becauseevery “crossing” for miles

Is eliminated by PL’s new underpasses

and above-grade bridges- - - - - - - - -

With no crossings, they can usetrack lubricant as needed

NONE of these can be used onWayne or Bonifant

Noise remediesplanned for

Montgomery County west of Silver Spring

Remaining Noise remedy

availablefor

Silver Spring and points east ….??

Miles of noise walls

Because trains never cross paths with cars or people here,

there are multiple options for sound absorbing rail beds

No warning horn risk here becauseevery “crossing” for miles

Is eliminated by PL’s new underpasses

and above-grade bridges- - - - - - - - -

With no crossings, they can usetrack lubricant as needed

NONE of these can be used onWayne or Bonifant

Noise remediesplanned for

Montgomery County west of Silver Spring

Remaining Noise remedy

availablefor

Silver Spring and points east!!!

NOISE/VIBRATION REMEDIES suggested by community TO BE PART OF PL DESIGN

1. REQUIRE MATERIALS THAT ABSORB NOISE Require that your surface materials in high risk areas are non-sound-reflective materials,

completely sound-absorbent materials, for Track beds, for paths and for retaining walls.

2. (New idea) MAYBE REDUCE ROAD CURVES SOMEWHAT TO REDUCE SQUEALWhen rebuilding Wayne Ave, try to smooth some severe curves, shave some edges off and

straighten existing road curves to eliminate some inevitable Squeal (e.g., road curves near the Creek lend themselves to this). Every little bit helps.

3. MINIMIZE NON-EMERGENCY NOISE AT NIGHT IN THE HIGH IMPACT AREASHave firm “night operation sound rules” for areas under bedroom windows.Use directional sound equipment for all horns and PAs; Sound can be “pointed” as can a

light beam. Aim Sound low where the warning is needed: Birds, chimneys and second floors don’t need to hear it.

4. INCREASE TRAFFIC-CALMING ON WAYNE TO KEEP CLAMOUR DOWNThere is growing residential support for a 25 MPH speed limit on Wayne at all times --

fiercely-enforced ---- to reduce near-misses that happen already and when mercifully no one is hurt, to reduce the clamour of screeching brakes, horns, and all kinds of accompanying drama. Now with advent of PL, we must calm Wayne down.

NOISE/VIBRATION REMEDIES suggested by communityTO BE PART OF PL DESIGN

5. SET “MARYLAND’S OWN STANDARDS” FOR NOISE AND VIBRATION THAT ARE BETTER THAN FTA’S “AVERAGES” IN HIGH IMPACT AREAS

Citizens have proposed since last year that Maryland could “do better for its citizens” than FTA’s average standards ever would, in areas where it is quieter at night or closer to operational trains than FTA standards even admit.

Henry Kay responded on the spot last winter that it was a good idea worth pursuing. That has not happened. RFP instructions still assume FTA’s “averages” as their bar.

Maryland could still set better standards -- in strictly defined areas – and instructthat mitigation is intensely focused in those areas

These areas would include the small business 900-block of Bonifant Street, and the limited number of quiet night communities where trains literally run under bedroom windows: Wayne Avenue/Silver Spring, Coquelin Run, The Hamlets, Lynn Drive and Elm Street in Bethesda.

NOISE AND VIBRATION REMEDIES suggested by communityTHAT CAN BE DONE BY PL WITH HOME AND PROPERTY OWNERS

6. “Sound-proof Windows Replacement Program”Maryland already has a mechanism for a similar program (the Energy Efficiency

window replacement) that can be the model or the operational base for thisDevelop stipends, rebates, and/or tax credit amounts reflecting proximity to tracksStart it as soon as possible, before construction. (Why wait?)

7. Enable owners to harden insulation on interiors of walls that face tracksThings like dense spray foam on the inside of street facing walls

make an enormous positive difference for both vibration and noiseThis would be done contracted and handled by property owner

BUT with a stipend, rebate and/or tax credit proportional to proximity to tracks

Start this program also before or with construction phase – no need to wait

8. Make your noise-wall material available to homeowners near trains Home owners or institutions might want to insulate more of their yardsMake your preferred material available to them for direct purchase

(from the vendor, not the state) but at cost

END