noise wall public preference balloting: north carolina’s ... trb16.pdf · i-77 express lanes...

Noise Wall Public Preference Balloting: North Carolina’s Experiences

TRB ADC40 Summer MeetingJuly 25, 2016

Gregory A. Smith, LG, PETraffic Noise & Air Quality Group

Transportation

Noise Wall Public Preference Balloting

2

• Past History of NCDOT Public Preference Balloting

• Recent Events

• More Recent Balloting Modifications

• Current Status

Transportation


3

1990 Noise Abatement Guidelines

A determination of Reasonableness should include items such as follows:

5. There is documented support of the benefited residents (4 dBA or more reduction) for placement of abatement measures

Transportation


4

1996 Traffic Noise Abatement Policy

Reasonableness:

Opinions of impacted residents - Support for the proposed sound barrier by design receptors ("first row" residents) must be documented. Noise barriers will not be constructed without support from 51% or more of the first row residents within a given area. The opinions of design receptors will be requested at formal and informal meetings and/or by mail depending upon the scope of the project.

Transportation


5


Reasonableness:

Opinions of impacted residents - Support for the proposed noise barrier by front row receptors must be documented due to the visual effect of the proposed measures. The Department will solicit the opinions of these receptors and a majority of these receptors must support the construction of the noise abatement measure.

Transportation


6


Reasonableness:

Viewpoints of the property owners and residents of all benefited receptors shall be solicited. One owner ballot and one resident ballot shall be solicited for each benefited receptor. Points per ballot shall be distributed in the following weighted manner:

- 3 points/ballot for benefited front row property owners- 1 point/ballot for all other benefited property owners- 1 point/ballot vote for all residents

Consideration of the noise abatement measure will continue unless a simple majority of all distributed points are returned that indicates the balloted voters do not want the abatement measure.

Transportation


7

I-77 Express Lanes Project

• Charlotte to Mooresville

• Approximately 28 miles

• 23 Originally-ProposedNoise Walls

• 2 Declined by Public Balloting

• 2 Later Added

Transportation


8

I-277 Charlotte Downtown Loop

• 2 Noise Walls Proposed

• Original Public Balloting in 2013 • 161 Pts Distributed• 24% Response – 15% For, 9% Against

• Design Changes New Balloting

• Revised Public Balloting in 2014

• 153 Pts Distributed• 69% Response – 16% For, 53% Against• Very Contentious Balloting Experience

Transportation


9

Balloting Validation

NCDOT Contracted with Consultant for Defensibility

• Verified All Benefited Receptor Addresses• GIS• County Tax Files• Door-to-Door

• Verified Rental Status of Benefited Properties• Management Companies

• Verified Occupancy of Rental Properties• Management Companies• Door-to-Door• Left Door Hangers

• Reissued Ballots to Non-Responders• Provided Final Results in Memorandum

Transportation


10

Remaining 21 Walls on I-77

2250 pts Distributed

820 pts Returned (36%)

2% Against Walls

Very Little Public Inquiry

Transportation


11

Early 2015

FHWA Required NCDOT to Re-Ballot

• All 22 Proposed I-77 Walls

• To Ensure Equitable Public Outreach Effort For All Balloted Receptors

Transportation


12

Re-Balloting of 22 Walls on I-77

2344 points Distributed

831 points Returned ( 35 %)

7% Against Walls

Again, Very Little Public Inquiry

Irritation Expressed for Need to Recast Ballots

Transportation


13

Enhanced Public Outreach

• Greater Initial Effort to Verify Addresses/Ownership• Consultant Validation• Public Noise Meetings

• Notices Sent to Benefited Receptors• All Things Noise

• Pre-Ballot Postcard Notification• Ballot Packages Improved

Well-Marked Envelopes“Noise Wall Ballot Enclosed”More Readable Details LetterAerials With Wall LocationsIdealized Wall Aesthetics, When Known

Transportation


14

FHWA FAQ Published in 2015

G7. Whom does the state DOT survey to obtain viewpoints?

“... highway agencies should only consider votes that are submitted, and should not assume a "no response" is a vote for or against the noise abatement.

Clearly, NCDOT’s 2011 Policy did not follow this FHWA position

No vote cast is the same as a vote “For” a particular noise wall

Transportation


15

2016 Traffic Noise Abatement Policy (Still a Draft)

Reasonableness:

Property owners and tenants of all benefited receptors shall be solicited to obtain their preferences for or against a proposed noise wall. No tenant ballots are distributed for vacant rental property. Points per ballot shall be distributed in the following weighted manner:

5 points/ballot for adjacent property owners who reside at property4 points/ballot for adjacent property owners who rent property3 points/ballot for all non-adjacent property owners who reside at property2 point/ballot for all non-adjacent property owners who rent property1 point/ballot vote for all tenants of rental property

Owners of multi-unit rental locations will receive the applicable number of owner points for each individual benefited receptor (rental unit) owned.

Transportation


16

Adjacent Property is property that is immediately connected to highway right of way along property lines. Figure 1 provides graphic examples of Adjacent Property.

Transportation


17

If 50% or greater of all possible voting points from benefited receptors for each noise wall are received on the first solicitation, a simple majority of voting points cast will be used to determine if the proposed noise wall will be constructed.

If less than 50% of all possible points for each noise wall are received on the first solicitation, a second solicitation will be sent to benefited receptors who did not respond to the first solicitation.

If a second solicitation is conducted and 50% or greater of all possible voting points for each noise wall are received after the second solicitation, a simple majority of voting points cast will be used to determine whether or not the proposed noise wall will be constructed.

If less than 50% of total possible points for a noise wall are received after the second solicitation, the noise wall will not be constructed.

Transportation

NCDOT Traffic Noise Abatement Policy

18

Transportation


19

Draft Policy is Awaiting FHWA Approval

Transportation

Questionsand Discussion

noise wall public preference balloting: north carolina’s ... trb16.pdf · i-77 express lanes...

Documents