Method To Determine Reasonableness and Feasibility of Noise Abatement at Special Use Locations

Most states have policies in place that determine whether noise abatement is necessary and reasonable/feasible for Type I projects. These policies mirror federal guidance and apply to various land uses near the proposed project. Special land use facilities such as parks, churches, and schools are included in the policy as far as when abatement may be necessary (i.e., FHWA noise abatement criteria), but the determination of whether the abatement is reasonable or feasible may not be adequately addressed. A survey of state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) indicated that states are dealing with this need for reasonable/feasible determination for special land uses but do not have formal policies in place to address the issue. A systematic procedure would eliminate arbitrary decisions. A methodology developed for the Florida DOT to aid in the development of a procedure for special land use cases is presented. This methodology includes a feasibility flowchart that leads an individual through the process of determining whether abatement at a special land use site is feasible. The feasibility flowchart directs the individual to cease analysis because abatement is not feasible or to continue onto a reasonableness worksheet that determines whether abatement at the site is reasonable. The reasonableness worksheet leads the individual through site-specific calculations to derive an “abatement cost factor” used to determine reasonableness of abatement at the site.