R930-3-6. Noise Abatement Conditions

  In order to be considered for noise abatement, all of the following conditions must be met:

  (1) Noise abatement shall not be installed where it will create a hazard or violate design standards. Specifically, noise abatement walls shall not be added within the highway clear zone as defined in the AASHTO Roadside Design Guide;

  (2) At least seven dBA of noise reduction must be achievable at 35% of front row receptors; and

  (3) Noise abatement measures must be cost effective.

  (a) For residential areas (Category B, Table 1), Cost effectiveness is based on the cost of abatement divided by the number of benefited receptors. Benefited receptors must be considered in determining a noise barrier's cost per receptor regardless of whether or not they were identified as impacted. A benefited receptor is any impacted or non-impacted receptor that gets a noise reduction of 5 dBA or more as a result of the noise barrier. The maximum cost used to determine reasonableness to provide noise abatement is listed in the Noise Abatement Procedures. This cost may be periodically reviewed by the Department for reasonableness and updated, as needed.

  (b) For non-residential areas (Category A, C, D or E, Table 1): Cost effectiveness depends on the height of noise wall required and corresponding length of frontage. In any case, a reasonable cost for noise abatement will not exceed the cost effectiveness criteria listed in the Noise Abatement Procedures section of the UDOT Noise Policy.