Research for the AASHTO Committee on Environment and Sustainability. Task 106. Highway Noise and Historic Properties: A National Review of Effects and Mitigation Practices

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 requires that Federal agencies take into account the effects of their undertakings on properties eligible for listing in, or listed in the National Register of Historic Places ("historic properties") and afford the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) a reasonable opportunity to comment. According to 36 CFR 800.5(a)(2)(v), adverse effects specifically can include the "introduction of visual, atmospheric, or audible elements that diminish the integrity of the property's significant historic features". While the analysis of effects resulting from alteration or diminishment of setting by visual changes are a common element of Section 106 consultation, analysis of noise effects on historic properties is less common. In 2012, NCHRP Task 72 examined the practices used to address the potential effects of construction vibration on historic buildings (the Task 72 final report is available at http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=3115). Since that time, there has been considerable interest in taking a similar approach to examine highway noise impacts to historic properties. The purpose of this study was to provide a resource to assist state departments of transportation (DOTs) in understanding the long-term effects of highway noise on historic properties, how these effects are considered under Section 106, and to provide examples of successful mitigation practices.

• Record URL:
  http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=4102

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $100000
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 25-25, Task 106

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Project Managers:

  Hartell, Ann

• Performing Organizations:

  Louis Berger Group

  30A Vreeland Road
  Florham Park, NJ  United States  07932
• Principal Investigators:

  Bedford, Steven

  Graham, Paul

• Start Date: 20180301
• Expected Completion Date: 20190228
• Actual Completion Date: 20190228

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Construction projects; Countermeasures; Design; Historic preservation; Historic sites; Noise barriers; Noise control; Traffic noise; Vibration
• Subject Areas: Construction; Environment; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01651593
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 25-25, Task 106
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: Nov 27 2017 7:44PM