AUTOMATED LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT (ALRT) IN VANCOUVER, CANADA: MEASURED AND PERCEIVED NOISE IMPACTS

This paper analyzes the wayside noise impact of the Automated Light Rail Transit (ALRT) in the Broadway Station and Nanaimo Station areas of Vancouver, Canada. The research objective was twofold: to establish a relationship between noise levels and the distance to the ALRT guideway, and to relate residents' noise perceptions to the measured noise. In April 1986, noise measurements and a survey of residents' perceptions were undertaken by the School of Community and Regional Planning, University of British Columbia. Using this base data, the 24-hr L sub eq was calculated. The analysis indicates that the relationship between noise and distance is semilogarithmic. An L sub eq of 55 dB or more, after adjustments to the 24-hr L sub eq based on criteria for previous community exposure to ALRT noise and background noise in the neighborhood, defines the zone of high impact. The distance from the ALRT guideway at which noise levels are unacceptable ranges from 20 to 200 ft. The Vancouver ALRT system was planned and built on the basis that only those properties within the ALRT right of way were to be acquired and noise impacts were not important. The experience since 1986 and this research indicate that noise impacts are important and should be mitigated. It is possible to establish measured zones of high impact. Planning goals must necessarily include the preservation of environmental quality. Prevention and mitigation of negative impacts must be part of the system's planning.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1989/1240/1240-003.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=AUTOMATED+LIGHT+RAIL+TRANSIT+(ALRT)+IN+VANCOUVER%2C+CANADA%3A+MEASURED+AND+PERCEIVED+NOISE+IMPACTS&author=V.+Pendakur&author=H.+McLean&publication_year=1989
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1240, Current Environmental Research in Transportation. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Pendakur, V Setty
  • McLean, Hugh
• Publication Date: 1989

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 13-24
• Monograph Title: Current environmental research in transportation
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1240
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Distance; Light rail transit; Measurement; Noise; Perception; Planning; Prevention; Sound level; Traffic mitigation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Mitigation; Zone
• Geographic Terms: Vancouver (Canada)
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00495456
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309049512
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Jul 31 1990 12:00AM