Ground-Borne Noise and Vibration in Buildings Caused by Rail Transit (2010)

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TCRP D-12 Final Report E-1 APPENDIX E TRANSIT AGENCY NOISE AND VIBRATION SURVEY QUESTIONS The transit system survey consisted of a cover letter and a series of questions. Following is the cover e-mail sent with the request to fill out the survey, and the survey questions. Cover E-Mail for Survey Cover e-mail Subject: TCRP D-12 Survey Dear [FirstName], Greetings! We are conducting this survey as part of the initial effort of TCRP Project D-12, " Noise and Vibration in Buildings Caused by Rail Transit." The objective of this project is to develop criteria for acceptable levels of rail- transit-generated noise and vibration in buildings. Please complete this short 10-minute survey. The purpose of the survey is to document North American transit systems’ experiences with ground vibration. It is important that we obtain responses from as many transit systems as possible, including those who have not had problems with vibration. The individual responses will be kept confidential and will only be discussed in aggregate. We appreciate your help. Feel free to forward the survey on to others in your organization. If you have any questions, please contact Hugh Saurenman or Zack Dennis at ATS Consulting, (213) 488-7770 (hsaurenman@ATSConsulting.com or zdennis@ATSConsulting.com). Here is a link to the survey: [SurveyLink] Thank you for your participation, Hugh Saurenman Please note: If you do not wish to receive further emails from us, please click the link below, and you will be automatically removed from our mailing list. [RemoveLink] Online Survey Questions Introduction: We are conducting this survey as part of the initial effort of TCRP Project D-12, “Noise and Vibration in Buildings Caused by Rail Transit.” The objective of this project is to develop criteria for acceptable levels of rail-transit-generated noise and vibration in buildings. Vibration is transmitted from the tracks, through the ground to nearby buildings. The resulting building vibration can be intrusive to occupants because of the perceptible vibration or the rattling of windows and items on shelves. The vibration of room surfaces can also radiate noise; in essence the room surfaces act as large loud speakers. The audible noise is referred to as noise. Noise is thought to be more common for subways than for at-grade track and is usually perceived as a low-frequency rumbling noise coming from an unidentifiable source.

TCRP D-12 Final Report E-2 In the survey we use the term vibration to refer to all the effects of vibration, including perceptible vibration, noise, and any rattling or shaking noises caused by the vibration. Instructions: The survey consists of 12 questions regarding the experience your rail transit system has had with vibration. Please answer all questions to the best of your knowledge. We encourage comments regarding your personal experience with vibration issues, complaints, or the survey itself. A separate section is provided at the end for this purpose. If the link to this survey was forwarded to you by someone else, please provide us with your contact information (name, e-mail, phone number) in the comments section at the end of the survey. Thank you for your help! 1. Please identify the transit mode where your district has had, or currently has, problems with vibration: No Problems Minor Problems Major Problems Light Rail Transit O O O Heavy Rail (Rapid Transit) O O O Commuter Rail O O O Streetcar O O O 1(a). Are there any other transit modes where vibration has been an issue (please specify transit mode and severity of problem)? 2. Please estimate the total number of vibration/ noise complaints that have been received in the last year. None 1-5 6-20 21-50 More than 50 3. Is there a formal system to receiving and responding to community complaints about noise and/or vibration? Yes No 3(a). If yes, please provide a brief description of the complaint system.

TCRP D-12 Final Report E-3 4. Have you become aware of problems through any other process? (e.g., telephone calls from residents, residents talking to maintenance workers, comments to board members from constituents) Yes No 4(a). If yes, please describe briefly. 5. Have vibration complaints been system-wide or focused in one or more particular locations? Focused at one or more specific locations System-wide with no apparent pattern Infrequent or no complaints Please answer the following questions with regard to all of the areas where vibration problems have occurred on your system. After completing this section you will be given the option of providing additional information about specific locations. 6. What types of track structures are used? (check all that apply) At-Grade Elevated Depressed (Trench) Cut and Cover Subway Bored Subway Other (please specify) 7. What types of track systems are used (check all that apply) Ballast and Tie Direct Fixation Embedded Other (please specify) 8. Are the rails welded or jointed? Welded Jointed 9. Do the complaints appear to be correlated with anything in particular (e.g., need for track maintenance, rail corrugation, seasonal, etc.)?

TCRP D-12 Final Report E-4 10. What mitigation features currently exist on the system? (check all that apply) None Floating slabs High resilience fasteners Ballast mats Tie isolation pads Other (please specify) 11. Have any measurements of vibration and/or noise been performed in response to complaints? Yes No Don’t know 11(a). If yes, are the measurement results available? Yes No Don’t know 12. How have the complaints been resolved? (check all that apply) Track maintenance Vehicle maintenance High resilience fasteners Litigation/settlement No resolution Other (please specify) 13. Would you like to fill in one or more forms describing particular areas where vibration has been a major concern? Yes, take me there now. No thank you. This section is to describe, in detail, up to five areas where vibration has become an issue. Please fill out one form for each area you would like to describe. 14. Please describe the area in detail (transit mode, speed, headways, rolling stock, track type, any unusual features, geology, etc.). 15. Please describe the nature of the vibration problem (complaints about intrusion or cracks in foundations, litigation, etc.)

TCRP D-12 Final Report E-5 16. Have noise or vibration measurements been taken? Yes No Don’t know 16a. If yes, please describe the measurements. 17. Has the problem been resolved? Yes No Don’t know 17a. If yes, please describe the resolution: 18. Is there another area you would like to describe in detail? Yes, I would like to fill out another form. No, thank you.