Update May 23, 2025, Urge MoDOT to Construct a Sound Wall Along Highway 270 for Noise Reduction
Thank you! The petition, Urge MoDOT to Construct a Sound Wall Along Highway 270 for Noise Reduction, has 437 supporters. The petition has received 5,702 views.
I have not received a response to my letter (mailed by USPS on May 15) to Director Ed Hassinger of MoDOT. A member of the Orchard Lakes Subdivision emailed MoDOT’s local office on May 16, 2025. This local representative’s email reply on May 20, 2025, included:
“Good morning,
I am MoDOT’s Area Engineer for North St. Louis County. I was forwarded your email below concerning a sound barrier on I-270 between Olive Blvd and Page Ave. Sound walls are studied and, if feasible, constructed as of a result of MoDOT projects that meet the following criteria – build a new highway, relocate and existing highway, or add lanes to an existing highway. These projects will most likely require us to evaluate the impacts of traffic noise during the design phase.
There is a lot of criteria that needs to be met in all, but if a new project warrants a noise study, we evaluate the impacts of the traffic noise to determine if a sound wall will reduce the noise enough to be noticeable. The sound levels must be at 66 decibels (dB) and a sound must lower the sound levels between 5-7dB while being a reasonable and feasible wall to build.
In your email you mentioned several projects in this area over the last 20 years. Of those projects only the construction of the flyover from northbound I-270 to westbound MO 364 triggered a noise study. This was in 2009 and, at that time, one wall to the northwest of the interchange met the requirements in the policy to build a sound barrier. It was voted on and built as part of the project.
At this time, we do not have any projects planned along I-270 that will trigger the need to complete a sound study. Let me know if you have any questions…”.
I see this quick reply from the St. Louis MoDOT office as encouraging. Do not be discouraged by the statement, “At this time, we do not have any projects planned along I-270 that will trigger the need to complete a sound study.” In my opinion, MoDOT uses this as one of multiple standard responses.
It is true that typically, sound walls are considered when adding lanes to a highway. This requirement is mandated by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). MoDOT considers constructing sound walls as part of new road construction projects when the department builds a new road or interchange on a new location, adds lanes to an existing highway, or changes the location of the roadway.
FHWA protocols state, “If any portion of a project evaluated under NEPA is determined to be Type I per 23 CFR 772.5, then the entire project area as defined in the environmental document is a Type I project.” In 2009, Dawn Valley Subdivision was approved for a sound wall as a Type I project (number J6U1045B). The Dawn Valley Subdivision is approximately 2.3 miles from the Orchard Lakes Subdivision. Project J6U1045B included additions and improvements to I-270 bordering the Orchard Lakes Subdivision.
A frequently overlooked purpose of FHWA includes allowing us to try to compel state transportation officials to perform a sound study. FHWA covers noise abatement measures to help protect the public's health, welfare, and livability; this is commonly a Type II project for existing highways. However, based on numerous specifics and exceptions, existing highways can be classified as a Type I project. A Type II Federal or Federal-aid highway project for noise abatement on an existing highway states, “[f]or a Type II project to be eligible for Federal-aid funding, the highway agency must develop and implement a Type II program in accordance with section 772.7(e).”
I plan to follow up with Director Hassinger on June 17, 2025. Please continue your outstanding efforts to encourage others to sign the petition.
An Important Note:
Quiet Community is a consortium of scientific, medical, and legal professionals working in the area of noise and related pollution on health and the environment. Quiet Community has a lawsuit pending to compel the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to take action as mandated by the United States Congress (enacted in the Noise Control Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 4901 to 4918) to protect public health and the environment from harmful noise pollution. In this case (complaint number 1:23-CV-1649), summary judgment motions in the US District Court for the District of Columbia have been fully briefed and are under submission; this means legal papers and evidence have been submitted to the court for review, and the case is awaiting a ruling. A favorable ruling for the plaintiffs will give us a greater possibility of having MoDOT address our issue in favor of the supporters of this petition.
If you are interested in performing a nonscientific assessment of noise levels from your patio or porch, please consider using:
- Free Online Loudness-Sound Meter by Youlean (https://youlean.co/online-loudness-meter/
- Web Browser Sound Meter (https://webbrowsertools.com/sound-meter/ or
- NIOSH Sound Level Meter Application (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/niosh-sound-level-meter/id1096545820
I need your help to accomplish our goal of a sound wall on I-270.