Table 5.9-2 Increase in Cumulative Noise Allowed by FTA Criteria 

 

Existing Noise Exposure

Leq or Ldn 1

Allowable Cumulative Noise Level Increases Leq or Ldn 1

Category 1 or 2 Sites

Category 3 Sites

Impact

Severe Impact

Impact

Severe Impact

45

8

14

12

19

46

7

13

12

18

47

7

12

11

17

48

6

12

10

16

49

6

11

10

16

50

5

10

9

15

51

5

10

8

14

52

4

9

8

14

53

4

8

7

13

54

3

8

7

12

55

3

7

6

12

56

3

7

6

11

57

3

6

6

10

58

2

6

5

10

59

2

5

5

9

60

2

5

5

9

61

1.9

5

4

9

62

1.7

4

4

8

63

1.6

4

4

8

64

1.5

4

4

8

65

1.4

4

3

7

66

1.3

4

3

7

67

1.2

3

3

7

68

1.1

3

3

6

69

1.1

3

3

6

70

1.0

3

3

6

71

1.0

3

3

6

72

0.8

3

2

6

73

0.6

2

1.8

5

74

0.5

2

1.5

5

75

0.4

2

1.2

5

 

Category 1: Buildings or parks where quiet is an essential element of their purpose

Category 2: Residences and buildings where people normally sleep. This includes residences, hospitals,

and hotels where nighttime sensitivity is assumed to be of utmost importance

Category 3: Institutional land uses with primarily daytime and evening use. This category includes schools,

libraries, and churches

1 Ldn is used for land uses where nighttime sensitivity is a factor; Daytime Leq is used for land uses with only

daytime activities

Source: FTA Manual for Transit Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment, FTA April 1995