We request immediate action to mitigate the noise caused by the elevated subway trains near PS85Q in Astoria, Queens. The noise from the elevated trains is intolerable. Trains pass the school every few minutes for the full school day. The noise interferes with the ability of our teachers to teach and our students to learn. Study after study shows that intermittent loud noise has serious negative effects on student learning. The deleterious long term health effects from loud noises are well established, too. We request that the MTA and DoE end the harmful noise our students must listen to every school day.

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Subway train noise near PS85Q was recoginized by the NYC DoE and the MTA in a 1983/1984 study, which measured the noise in our school at over 90 decibels. The report admitted the problem and solutions were mandated. However, 30 years later, we have measured the noise in our school, and it is still over 90 decibels.

On a typical day where trains pass every 2 minutes during rush hour and every 3 minutes during the rest of the day. Each train takes about 30-40 seconds to pass.

Using hand-held decibel meters, PS85Q parents have recorded the following noise levels: 

In front of school, on steps at front door when train passes: 97

Empty cafeteria when train passes: 91

Inside empty classroom when train passes: 95 

During rush hour, 30 trains per hour are scheduled by the MTA to pass our school, and each train takes 30 seconds or more to pass the school. 30 trains for 30 seconds each.  That’s 15 minutes out of every hour interrupted by noise that is so loud teachers cannot speak, and children cannot hear their teachers. During non-rush hour, 20 trains are scheduled each and every hour. 20%-25% of our children’s classroom time and education is impossible to conduct due to train noise. We demand that the problem be solved once and for all! 

Please help us end this harmful and on-going neglect of our children.