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Developing a new Healdsburg Noise Ordinance
Transportation and Traffic noise
(Click on Photos to enlarge)
Traffic (both Freeway and city street origin) is the main contributor to ambient noise pollution in Healdsburg. Any new Healdsburg noise ordinance must develop a methodology to define this noise and isolate it as a factor when monitoring a nonconforming sound level. (Also see Background Noise.)
Map of Southern Healdsburg illustrating the relationship between Highway 101, NWP Railroad, and Syar Industries Sand and Gravel operations. The 101 Freeway passing on the west and south side of Healdsburg is a second largest noise contributor to our sound pollution after Syar Industries. To a lesser degree, city street noise also contributes.
Auto and Truck traffic:
"Interestingly, acceptable noise levels caused by fixed sources are often much lower than those resulting in practice from traffic, even if each of the individual vehicles which form it is within its respective limits. This contradiction arises because vehicular noise bounds are the result of a series of technological and economic compromises rather than desirable or safe community noise levels." (Federico Miyara )
Trucks:
On a typical day over 400 noisy double trailer dump trucks load up at Syar Industries Healdsburg plant. Their noise and dust pollution is enormous. They also drop large amounts of sand, dust and gravel on Healdsburg Avenue and 101 Freeway.
We can all agree that motorcycles and garbage trucks produce an unreasonable amount of noise. The exceedingly loud motorcycle we can monitor and regulate, (assuming a police officer just happens to be in the vicinity). The garbage truck is a necessary evil of our modern society. So long as it is maintained properly and meets reasonable noise limits, it is a fine example of a noise pollution compromise we make. Banging garbage cans (plastic or metal) are another matter. Much of this annoying noise can be controlled by properly training and monitoring the operators.
Rail Transportation noise:
Some day the Northwest Pacific Railroad will be back in operation. The sounds of clicking wheels and diesel engine horns at each road crossing is romantic to most persons. I'm sure there are others who think differently.
In the past 20 years only one or two trains per day came through town. It is unlikely more freight traffic than that can reasonably be expected. Traffic south of town should pick up significantly once we start bringing in sand and gravel by rail from eager central valley counties such as Yolo County.
When the time comes, the City needs to encourage railroad officials to install mitigation features whenever possible, and instruct railroad engineers to limit their use of air horns to reduce rail-related noise impacts.
Figure 2 is predictive of reactions in Healdsburg to resumption of regular rail traffic and especially Light Rail Commute trains. (photo: http://www.sunnyfortuna.com/ )
A few Tourist trains ran between Healdsburg and Willits a few years ago. It was great fun. It was an all day round trip. If you wanted to you could stay overnight in Willets and take the Skunk train to Fort Bragg the next day.
I'm sure these trains will be back in the near future. The "Sonoma County Wine Train". (photo: http://www.sunnyfortuna.com/ )
Light Rail Cars are projected for a commuter line on the NWP tracks from Cloverdale to Larkspur in Marin County. These cars would run once or twice per hour.
These cars can be noisy. Next time you are in Sacramento, San Jose, Los Angeles, or San Diego check out their light rail cars. See Figure 2 above for community reactions to rail traffic noise .
In some European countries noise limits for new railway lines are less stringent that for new roads. The difference is called a railway bonus and is generally about 5 dB(A). This is based on findings that show that rail traffic annoyance is lower than road traffic annoyance.
The noise bonus is not relevant in all situations, where noise level are high very little or no noise bonus is given. As a practical matter, since night sound level limits are lower, the night the bonus is higher than the day period by an average of 10 dB(A).
For rural areas such as Healdsburg, the bonus would be much lower than urban areas, only about 2.5 dB(A). *[ASSESSING THE RAILWAY BONUS J. Lambert, P. Champelovier, I. Vernet INRETS, Cedex, France.]
The rail line noise contour maps above show: Blue line: Buildings and walls, Pink line: Light Rail System (Line Source), Green Line: Noise Barrier, Blue Points: Receiver Location
You can easily visualize the noise propagation on both sides of the track and how buildings are effective as reflective surfaces and also as noise barriers. The cross section also dramatically illustrates the screening effect of 8 ft noise barrier on the the South-East side of the track.
Send mail to sales@navcon.com with questions or comments about these noise maps. Copyright © 1997-2002 Navcon Engineering Network.
The Healdsburg airport runway runs Northwest to Southeast. \
Aircraft taking off or landing usually fly directly over Healdsburg. Most planes are light recreational planes. Unfortunately some pilots think buzzing the town on Sunday afternoon is great sport. Problem?
Then there is that 2 a.m. jetliner from London heading to San Francisco every night.
The real aircraft noise culprit in Healdsburg is the helicopters that fly over the city, including the Sonoma County Sheriffs noise machine. Helicopter noise has been measured in the 80 to 90 dB range. This is a problem.
Hot Air Balloons pass over Healdsburg frequently early in the morning before the winds come up. Noisy? When their burners are turned ON, some might find the noise objectionable. Doesn't occur enough to be of concern to most people. I think their beauty outweighs the infrequent noise they make.
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