MnDOT Noise Barriers: Evaluation Report

In April 2013, the Legislative Audit Commission directed the Office of the Legislative Auditor to evaluate Minnesota Department of Transportation's (MnDOT's) noise barrier policies. This evaluation included a review of federal regulations, Minnesota laws and rules, Minnesota's federally approved traffic noise abatement policy, the policies of nine selected comparison states, and interviews with MnDOT noise policy staff, additional MnDOT staff, county engineers, and noise policy staff in the comparison states. Recommendations include: MnDOT should change its procedure for assessing public support for noise barriers on federal projects; MnDOT should create a pathway for communities outside of the metropolitan area to become eligible for state-funded noise barrier projects; MnDOT should revise its priority list ranking formula for state-funded noise barriers and re-rank locations on the list; MnDOT should develop long-term schedules and funding plans for routine noise barrier maintenance; and MnDOT should increase transparency in its noise barrier policy decision making.

• Record URL:
  http://www.auditor.leg.state.mn.us/ped/pedrep/mndotnoise.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Office of the Legislative Auditor, State of Minnesota

  658 Cedar Street
  St. Paul, MN  United States  55155
• Authors:
  • Kirchner, David
  • Randall, Judy
  • Logsdon, Laura
• Publication Date: 2013-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 63p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Decision making; Evaluation; Maintenance management; Noise barriers; Policy; Regulations; States; Strategic planning; Traffic noise
• Identifier Terms: Minnesota Department of Transportation
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; I15: Environment; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01499710
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 21 2013 9:22AM