Noise survey of the Metro Rapid Rail Transit System; January 1978

Abstract

The staff of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments' Areawide Environmental Noise Program underlook a noise survey of the Washington D.C. Metro Rapid Rail Transit System during the latter part of 1977. The survey included interior, station, and track‐side sound level measurements. The staff initiated the Metro noise survey after receiving numerous inquiries, regarding the availability of noise data obtained, since the system has become operative. The survey was conducted using a GenRad Type 1565‐B Sound Level Meter. The meter was calibrated before and after each measurement. Every precaution was taken to insure that all of the measurements were obtained under similar conditions. Procedures developed for the Federal Highway Administration were used to analyze the data. These procedures allow the L10 and Leq levels to be determined with 95% confidence. The results of this survey indicate that the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's efforts to minimize the noise impact from the Metro have been generally successful. In the presentation, the staff will discuss both measurement results and noise control procedures incorporated into the system.