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<br />ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - April 14, 2008 <br /> <br />14 <br /> <br />Mr. Maul explained that the MINNOISE model took normal weather conditions and traffic <br />conditions into account. <br /> <br />Councilmember McClung verified that no one had actually been to the sites and took the <br />reading but rather the readings were based on topography, normal traffic conditions, and distance <br />from the road and these figures were plugged into a model and the resulting data is what the <br />model thinks the reading would be. <br /> <br />Conncilmember Holmes asked for clarification on why Federal Activity Category B was used <br />and not Federal Activity Category E. She also asked why the Minnesota Pollution Control <br />Agency decibel numbers of 50 dBA to 55 dBA as listed on page 3 of the SEH Report were not <br />used. She also stated that the number of houses affected needed to be reexamined and the entire <br />neighborhood needed to be used. <br /> <br />Mr. Maul stated that for the model that was used the FHW A MnDOT used the LIO of the <br />MPCA, which means that the measured SPL in dBA must not exceed a certain threshold more <br />than 10% of the time for a one hour survey. He also stated that the Federal Activity Category B <br />was used because they felt that the land uses along TH 10 were better suited to this Category <br />versus category E. <br /> <br />CounciImember Holmes asked who "they" are. <br /> <br />Mr. Maul stated that "they" referred to the consultants, MnDOT and FHW A in the review of the <br />traffic analysis. <br /> <br />Mayor Harpstead stated that one of the differences between the two categories is that Category <br />B was interior and Category E was exterior. <br /> <br />Mr. Maul clarified that to receive federal highway funding the noise levels have to be above 70 <br />dBA or in Minnesota 69 dBA in order to take the next step. There then has to be a 5 dBA <br />reduction with the noise walls in order to move to the next step of cost benefit analysis. <br /> <br />Mayor Harpstead asked if this analysis was the most favorable at potentially justifying the cost <br />effectiveness. <br /> <br />Mr. Maul stated that based on the software this would be the most favorable. <br /> <br />Mr. Chromy explained that the 70 dBA was measured outside of the residence and was used to <br />determine if trunk highway funds could be used for building sound walls. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden asked for clarification regarding the 70 dBA for federal funding and <br />the 69 dBA for Minnesota. <br /> <br />Mr. Maul stated that the Federal Highway Administration gives states the opportunity to go <br />under the 70 dBA to trigger the next analysis stage. Minnesota has chosen 69 dBA. <br />