Abstract
Experts in diverse fields have investigated sound in cities throughout the United States. This research aims to examine sound levels and determine its contributors at the transit-oriented development (TOD) station and neighborhood levels by studying selected Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) light rail stations. A multilevel analysis was performed to model the likelihood of TOD stations and neighborhoods affecting sound levels, controlling for station amenities, socio-demographics and built environment characteristics. Sound measurements were sampled in three time intervals with 15 min sampling over weekdays and weekends at TOD and non-TOD stations by a type II SPL meter that was mounted on a small camera tripod at a height of 1.5 m, at a distance of 1.5 m from rails and curbs. The research team found that amenities, built environmental characteristics, and neighborhood features have significant implications on sound levels at both the TOD station and the neighborhood level, which affects quality of life (QoL). TOD stations that include more amenities have a greater level of significance on sound levels. Additionally, neighborhoods with a pervasive street grid configuration, public facilities, and built environment densities are significantly associated with a likelihood of high sound levels. Conversely, higher population densities and intersection densities decrease the likelihood of a high sound level environment. These patterns provide an arena for transportation, urban, and environmental planning and policymaking to generate transformative solutions and policies.
Highlights
Noise is defined in different ways; some define it as unwanted sound, while others describe it as the combination of sounds that adversely affect hearing [1,2]
Level 1 variables of non-transit-oriented development (TOD) stations are significantly associated with sound levels that are significantly correlated with the seating benches, message boards, ticket vending machines (TVMs), and shelters (p < 0.05)
When we look at the same scale indicators of TODs, message boards and facility types are significantly associated with the sound levels
Summary
Noise is defined in different ways; some define it as unwanted sound, while others describe it as the combination of sounds that adversely affect hearing [1,2]. Environmental noise including transportation, industry, construction, and neighborhood, is often a foremost environmental issue [3]. Transportation-related noise influences more than 90% of the U.S population, the level of noise is not usually high enough to be considered a threat to public health [4]. Exposure to transportation-related noise has been examined in various contexts with regard to public health concerns such as chronic diseases, hearing loss, stress, and sleeping disorders within a general context of quality of life (QoL). While objective measurements of QoL consider income and crime rate variables, they do not typically reflect personal experience [7] or subjective evaluations including perceived life
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