T.F. Green Airport Improvement Program - FEIS Chapters - PVD

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) EvaluationAircraft Ground Noise (Integrated Cargo Facility Operations) – 2015, 2020, and 2025Under the No-Action Alternative, noise from cargo activities is not expected to result in significant impacts to nearbyneighborhoods or other noise-sensitive receptors. Overall the cargo noise levels decreased by approximately 1 dB dueto the decrease in operations from the revised No-Action Alternative FEIS forecast. A detailed discussion of thecumulative noise exposure (DNL) analysis and single-event (L max) analysis are provided in Appendix F, Noise.Vehicular Traffic Noise (Off-Airport Roadway Improvements) – 2015, 2020, and 2025The No-Action Alternative involves only periodic maintenance and minor improvements needed to maintainsafe operations at T.F. Green Airport. There would be no changes to off-Airport roadways associated with theNo-Action Alternative. Noise-sensitive land uses within the vicinity of the Alternatives B2 and B4 roadwayimprovements likely to be impacted by vehicle traffic noise were evaluated under the No-Action Alternativeconditions (in 2015, 2020, and 2025) to compare to the future build conditions. Specifically, areas along PostRoad for Partially Relocated Airport Road (under both Alternatives B2 and B4) and along Main Avenue for theRealigned Main Avenue (under Alternative B4 only) are evaluated. The 2004 Baseline Condition vehicle trafficsound levels for these areas are also presented to serve as a baseline for comparison to future conditions.For Partially Relocated Airport Road, because the vehicular traffic noise analysis evaluates receptors only within500 feet of the proposed roadway changes, there are two different sets of No-Action Alternatives results in orderto directly compare to Alternatives B2 and B4. For the comparison to Alternative B2, where Partially RelocatedAirport Road intersects Post Road at Tennessee Avenue is evaluated. For the comparison with Alternative B4,where Partially Relocated Airport Road intersects Post Road at Hasbrouck Avenue, is evaluated.Table 5-11 summarizes the computed vehicular traffic noise levels under the No-Action Alternative in 2015 orreceptors that would be within 500 feet of the roadway improvements for both Alternatives B2 and B4.Table 5-12 summarizes the computed 2020 and 2025 vehicular traffic noise levels under the No-ActionAlternative for receptors that would be within 500 feet of the Alternative B2 roadway improvements. Similarly,Table 5-13 summarizes the computed 2020 and 2025 No-Action Alternative vehicular traffic noise levels forreceptors that would be within 500 feet of the Alternative B4 roadway improvements.Under the No-Action Alternative, in 2015, projected traffic noise levels of areas likely to be impacted byAlternative B2 are expected be about the same as or slightly higher than traffic noise levels for the BaselineCondition. Under the 2015 No-Action Alternative, four homes located on the west side of Post Road would beimpacted by traffic noise (Table 5-11). In 2015, projected traffic noise levels with the No-Action Alternative forareas to be potentially impacted by Alternative B4 are expected be about the same as or slightly higher thantraffic noise levels compared to the Baseline Condition. Under the Baseline Condition, four housing units in thevicinity of Airport Road were exposed to traffic noise levels that approach or exceed the FHWA criteria fortraffic noise impact (Table 5-11). In 2015, the number of impacted homes near Airport Road would increase tofive under the No-Action Alternative. Under the Baseline Condition, 53 housing units in the vicinity of MainAvenue were exposed to traffic noise levels that approach or exceed the FHWA criteria for traffic noise impact.The same number of housing units would be exposed to traffic noise levels that approach or exceed the FHWAcriteria under the No-Action Alternative during that same timeframe. These residences would be affected eitherby traffic on Post Road and the west end of existing Airport Road in the vicinity of the Relocated Airport Roador by traffic on Main Avenue and Post Road in the vicinity of the Realigned Main Avenue.Chapter 5 - Environmental Consequences 5-20 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH05_Environmental_Cons_JUL_2011.doc