2006 New York Rapid Transit Noise Code.

 
    §  1204-a*.    Rapid  transit  noise code. 1. As used in this section,
  unless another meaning is indicated by the context:
    a.  "Authority" means the New York City Transit Authority.
    b.  "Subways" means all rail rapid transit  systems  operated  by  the
  authority  including  but  not limited to rolling stock, track and track
  beds, passenger stations, tunnels, elevated structures,  yards,  depots,
  and shops.
    c.    "New cars" means all those cars the purchase and/or construction
  of which is contracted for subsequent to the enactment of this section.
    d.  "Screech" means any noise generated by wheel-track interactions on
  curves or by brake application and which is a  prominent  discreet  tone
  above 1000 Hertz as defined by the American National Standards Institute
  specifications (ANSIS1.13--1971).
    e.    "Sound  pressure  level" means twenty times the logarithm to the
  base ten of the ratio of the root mean squared pressure of a sound to  a
  reference  pressure  of  twenty  micropascals.  The unit applied to this
  measure shall be the decibel (dB).
    f.  "A-weighted sound level or (dBA)" means the sound  pressure  level
  measured  by  the use of an instrument with the metering characteristics
  and A-weighting frequency response prescribed for  sound  level  meters.
  The  sound level measurement system must meet or exceed the requirements
  of the American National  Standard  Institute  Specification  for  Sound
  Level  Meters  ANSI  S1.4--1971, approved April twenty-seventh, nineteen
  hundred seventy-one,  throughout  the  applicable  frequency  range  for
  either:
    (a)  A Type 1 sound level meter; or
    (b)  A Type 2 sound level meter; or
    (c)  A Type S sound level meter which has:
    (1)  an A-weighting frequency response; and
    (2)   a fast dynamic characteristic which complies with section 5.3 of
  ANSI S1.4--1971; and
    (3)   a relative response level  tolerance  consistent  with  that  of
  either a Type 1 or Type 2 sound level meter, as specified in section 3.2
  of ANSI S1.4--1971.
    g.     "Equivalent  sound  level"  means  the  energy-average  of  the
  integrated A-weighted sound level over a specified  observation  time  T
  and is identified by the symbol Leg.
    2.  The authority shall undertake a rail rapid transit noise abatement
  study, incorporating a comprehensive review  of  the  results  of  noise
  abatement   studies   and  projects  done  for  or  by  the  Urban  Mass
  Transportation  Administration  of  the  United  States  Department   of
  Transportation and other mass transit systems. Such study shall evaluate
  the range of strategies available for meeting the sound levels set forth
  in  the following sound level table, propose strategies and indicate the
  approximate time and necessary cost for meeting such sound  levels,  and
  indicate  the  expected  dBA  reduction  of each proposed strategy. Such
  study shall be submitted to the governor and the legislature,  and  made
  available to the public, within one year of enactment of this section.
 
                              SOUND LEVEL TABLE
  a.
 
  EQUIVALENT SOUND
       LEVEL                         PERCENT COMPLIANCE
 
                     within 4 years   within 8 years   within 12 years
                         of the           of the           of the
                     effective date   effective date   effective date
                     of this section  of this section  of this section
 
  I. CAR INTERIOR
 
  A. new cars    80dBA    100%              100%             100%
  B. old cars    85dBA     20%               40%              70%
 
  II. CURVE AND
   BRAKE SCREECH
 
  A. new cars No Screech  100%              100%              100%
  B. old cars No Screech   20%               60%              100%
 
  III. STATION
  TRAINS ENTERING,
  LEAVING OR
  PASSING THROUGH 105dBA   85%               90%              100%
                   90dBA   70%               80%               95%
                   85dBA   50%               60%               80%
                   80dBA    5%               15%               60%
 
  IV. ELEVATED
   STRUCTURES
              Sound level
                 to be
              established  10%               30%               60%
 
    b.  In  all  cases  noise  levels  shall  be measured so as to reflect
  accurately the worst case of noise exposure at a specific location where
  a noise abatement strategy has  been  implemented,  to  which  a  subway
  passenger,  employee,  or any person who is within range of subway noise
  could reasonably be exposed under normal operating  conditions.    Noise
  measurements shall be made under the following conditions:
    Car  interior: when the car is in motion at a speed of forty miles per
  hour during normal operation with measurements in the center of the  car
  and the microphone five feet above the floor.
    Station:    (express) when the train is in motion and passing in front
  of the on-platform measuring point.
    (local) when the train is in motion and any part of it is  within  the
  station.
    Car  exterior  (elevated  tracks)   when the train is in motion and is
  passing in front of the point from which noise  measurements  are  being
  made.
    c. All measurements shall be taken with fast dynamic characteristic of
  the sound level measurement system. Energy equivalent measurements shall
  normally  be  used;  provided,  however,  alternative  measures  may  be
  proposed to incorporate new instrumentation or analyses that may  become
  available.
    3. Within six months of the completion of the study conducted pursuant
  to  subdivision  two  of this section, the authority shall report to the
  governor and the legislature which strategies or portions of  strategies
  proposed  by such study it has chosen to implement, and the schedule for
  such implementation.
    To the extent, if any, that the authority's plan  fails  to  meet  the
  standards specified in the sound table, the authority shall so state and
  provide the reasons for its inability to meet such standards.
    4.  Within  twelve  months  of  the  completion of the study conducted
  pursuant to subdivision  two  of  this  section,  and  at  twelve  month
  intervals thereafter, the authority shall submit to the governor and the
  legislature  comprehensive reports detailing the authority's progress to
  date in abating subway noise. The  report  shall  include,  but  not  be
  limited  to  an itemized summary of all monies spent, bids requested and
  received, contracts  let,  and  actual  work  done  on  noise  abatement
  programs   during   the  previous  period.  Any  and  all  subway  noise
  measurements made during the previous period shall  be  included,  with,
  whenever possible, analyses of such measurements.
    Such  report  shall  also  include  a  detailed  analysis of all noise
  abatement activities planned for the next twelve months.  Following  the
  first   twelve   month   interval   these  reports  shall  also  include
  comprehensive statements of progress made on all planned noise abatement
  activities included in the previous annual report.
    Nothing herein shall preclude such report from being  incorporated  in
  the authority's annual capital report submitted pursuant to the "capital
  financing  and  services  system act of nineteen hundred eighty-one," so
  long as it is  maintained  as  a  separate,  distinct  and  identifiable
  component in such report.