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Center for Advancing Research in Transportation Emissions, Energy, and Health (CARTEEH)

A USDOT University Transportation Center

Noise-Compatible Planning

Regulating land use planning and development can reduce noise impacts for populations near highways and other high-traffic roadways.1 Local governments should begin by evaluating the areas surrounding highways and identify land uses that would be appropriate and less sensitive to traffic noise.2 This can type of planning can help identify where to locate different types of noise abatement measures, like noise barriers, buffer strips, and other construction techniques.

Considering this strategy will help achieve the goal of the following objectives

  • Less Contamination
  • Less Emissions
  • Less Traffic Noise
  • Connectivity and Inclusion
  • Healthy Destinations
  • Less Traffic Violence
  • Active Transportation
  • Green Space

Transportation lifecycle phases

This strategy is associated with the following transportation lifecycle phases:

  • Construction
  • End of Life
  • Maintenance
  • Material Selection
  • Operations
  • Policy and Planning
  • Project Development

Who's involved

  • Local governments
  • MPOs
  • Policymakers
  • State governments
  • Transit agencies
Regulating land use planning and development can reduce noise impacts for populations near highways and other high-traffic roadways.1 Local governments should begin by evaluating the areas surrounding highways and identify land uses that would be appropriate and less sensitive to traffic noise.2 This can type of planning can help identify where to locate different types of noise abatement measures, like noise barriers, buffer strips, and other construction techniques.

How it Helps

Noise-compatible planning can help prevent undesirable noise pollution exposure to noise-sensitive areas.3 For example, local governments and other agencies can prevent certain land uses from being located next to highways, such as schools, hospitals, nursing homes, affordable housing, and other residences. Planners can also designate open space next to highways to increase separation between vehicular traffic, pedestrians, and communities.

Implementing

Coordination:

To promote this type of planning, state transit agencies should coordinate with state and local government officials to design and construct developments in a way that minimizes traffic noise.4 Planners and government officials should compare current noise levels with estimated future noise levels to ensure that the development will not result in significant noise exposure for the surrounding communities. Additionally, geographic information system (GIS) technology can be utilized to analyze urban locations according to noise level.

Development Approaches:

Noise-compatible planning can be accomplished through zoning regulations, building codes, and other means.2 Municipalities can also manage land purchases by developers and inform community members regarding nearby land uses.

Examples

1) Montana Department of Transportation Report on Highway Noise Planning

The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) published a report in 2008 called ‘Growing Neighborhoods in Growing Corridors: Land Use Planning for Highway Noise’ which aims to provide guidance and technical assistance to municipalities regarding how to integrate noise considerations with land use planning. It includes information regarding noise-compatible land use measures, zoning regulations, acquisition of land, and other noise abatement strategies.

https://mdt.mt.gov/other/webdata/external/research/docs/research_proj/noise_plan/final_report.pdf

1. Oeler. Controlling Highway Noise. https://www.oeler.com/highway-noise/
2. USDOT Federal Highway Administration. (2017). Entering the Quiet Zone: Noise Compatible Land Use Planning. https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ENVIRonment/noise/noise_compatible_planning/federal_approach/land_use/qz02.cfm
3. USDA. Role of Land Use Planning in Noise Control. https://www.nrs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/gtr/gtr_ne25/gtr_ne25_242.pdf
4. AASHTO Center for Environmental Excellence. Traffic Noise & Transportation. https://environment.transportation.org/education/environmental-topics/traffic-noise/traffic-noise-overview/