Railroad Quiet Zone Information Page Now Up
The City of Austin has created a webpage with information on current quiet zone applications.
Archive of posts filed under the Noise in Austin category.
Latest Change to Noise Ordinance is Not Equitable
The latest change to the noise ordinance restricts sound coming from watercraft to being inaudible at 100 feet. This requirement is nearly impossible to satisfy. It is also written for the benefit of a specific set of homeowners. This ordinance is inequitable, serves a specific special interest, and transfers an undue burden of decision making to the police force.
The Nutty Brown Cafe: Noise Measurements and Comparison to Acoustical Criteria
During a performance at the Nutty Brown Cafe, sound levels were measured at a nearby residence. Measurements were compared to several appropriate criteria. According to these comparisons, sound levels from the Nutty Brown exceeded standards for annoyance and sleep disturbance by wide margins.
New Railroad Quiet Zones Possibly Coming Next Summer
Quiet zones are an excellent compromise between safety and community livability. The cost of installing sufficient safety equipment is typically small, in city budget terms. Communities that are organized enough to submit applications and who have the money to make the necessary improvements see substantial increases in the quality of lives of people who live within half a mile of a crossing.
The Comprehensive City Plan Should Have a Noise Element
The new Austin Comprehensive City Plan, now under development, currently lacks a noise element. As a leader in environmental issues, Austin should include a noise element in its comprehensive plan.
Getting Up to Speed – Relevant Reading
Here is a collection of interesting articles and blog entries that can help catch you up on Austin noise issues if you’re just tuning in. From Austin Contrarian July 28, 2009 – Stacking the deck July 12, 2009 – Shady Grove needs a parking variance June 18, 2009 – Update and clarification on the music …
Review of the Live Music Task Force Overview and Recommendations from an Acoustician’s Point of View
I should have started this blog one year earlier, as the LMTF presented their findings and recommendations back in November. Nevertheless, it can’t do any harm to share my thoughts on the Live Music Task Force Report. From an acoustics standpoint, the most important section in the report is Sound Enforcement & Control Subcommittee Recommendations. …
Things that are wrong with the Austin Noise Ordinance
Despite undergoing frequent revision due to changing political pressures, the Austin Noise Ordinance is still poorly written. The very fundamental aspects of the ordinance are flawed, written by people attempting to adopt portions of ordinances from other jurisdictions without totally understanding the differences in terms which sound similar but are actually quite different. Here’s what’s …
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