2018 Traffic Noise Practitioners Summit

On June 27-28, 2018, the Center for Environmental Excellence by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) hosted a Traffic Noise Practitioners Summit in Washington, DC. This event brought together noise practitioners from states throughout the country, as well as staff from AASHTO and FHWA, to discuss emerging topics of interest in the field and define a roadmap for the future of noise programs and research.

Traffic Noise Practitioners Summit Summary Report

Agenda

The presentations from the meeting are provided below.

Presentations Day 1

• Session 1: Analyses
  • Measurement and Validation – Ken Polcak, Maryland DOT; Adam Alexander, Gannett-Fleming, Noel Alcala, Ohio DOT
  • Time Saving Workflows in TNM 2.5 and 3.0 – Ivan Racic, Arizona DOT
  • Noise Impact Analysis Where There Are Existing Noise Walls – Mariano Berrios, Florida DOT; Jim Ponticello, Virginia DOT
  • Activity Category C Analysis – Mariano Berrios, Florida DOT
  • Optimum Wall Height – Noel Alcala, Ohio DOT
  • Absorptive vs Reflective Walls – Noel Alcala, Ohio DOT
• Session 2: After Impact and Abatement Analysis
  • Report Templates – Rose Waldman, Colorado DOT
  • Citizen Education: What Walls Can Do/Not Do – Adam Alexander, Gannett-Fleming
  • After Impact and Abatement Analysis – Carole Newvine, Oregon DOT
    • Report Templates
    • Citizen Education: What Walls Can/Cannot Do
    • Timing of Benefited Receptor Surveys
    • Noise Consultant Qualifications
    • Improving Tech Transfer, Training, Recruiting
    • Timing of benefited receptor surveys – Carole Newvine, Oregon DOT

Presentations Day 2

• • Session 3: Process and Efficiency
    • Screening Policy Criteria – Charles Bernhard, Iowa DOT; Ivan Racic, Arizona DOT
    • FHWA Low Volume Road Tool Demo and Policy Implications – Adam Alexander, Gannett-Fleming
    • Federal Type II Programs – Noel Alcala, Ohio DOT; Ken Polcak, Maryland DOT
    • Part-time Shoulder Use Panel Discussion – Adam Alexander, Gannett-Fleming; Jim Laughlin, Washington DOT; Rose Waldman, Colorado DOT; Martin Dougherty, West Virginia DOT
    • Proposed Regulation Changes Panel Discussion – Charles Bernhard, Iowa DOT; Carole Newvine, Oregon DOT
  • Session 4: Mitigation and Items Beyond 772
    • Processes DOTs Use for Noise Wall Final Design – Noel Alcala, Ohio DOT; Carole Newvine, Oregon DOT
    • Design Build Noise Studies: Implementation and Challenges Panel Discussion – Mariano Berrios, Florida DOT; Noel Alcala, Ohio DOT; Jim Ponticello, Virginia DOT; Matt Burcham, Missouri DOT
    • Innovative Highway Noise Mitigation Techniques Panel Discussion – Bruce Rymer, CalTrans; Ken Polcak, Maryland DOT; Adam Alexander, Gannett-Fleming; Charles Bernhard, Iowa DOT
    • Barrier Maintenance and Inventories; Noise Wall Inspection Procedures Panel Discussion – Noel Alcala, Ohio DOT; Ken Polcak, Maryland DOT; Adam Alexander, Gannett-Fleming
  • Session 5: Traffic Noise Research Roadmap
    • Facilitated Discussion About Current and Future Research Needs – Adam Alexander, Gannett-Fleming