The rumble strips on W. 56th St. leading to the intersection with 30th Ave., (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
KEARNEY — A Kearney resident presented a request to remove the transverse rumble strips near the intersection of W. 56th and 30th Ave. during the Buffalo County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, June 10.
David Lillyman, who lives on 30th Ave. just north of the intersection, appeared before the commissioners and requested a noise evaluation or abatement of the three pairs of transverse rumble strip panels near the intersection.
Lillyman said that recordings of the existing noise levels collected at a residence 555 feet away from the strips west of the intersection indicated peak levels of 73.5 decibels, with around 29 impacts per five minutes.
He also noted that the noise was audible inside insulated buildings, over 500 feet away and said that family activities with his family are negatively impacted, especially at times of peak traffic.
“Sound records and roadside observations further indicate that motorists frequently attempt to avoid the rumble strips, at times departing from the paved surface, creating hazardous driving conditions,” Lillyman wrote.
Lillyman said that he believes the sound data collected exceeds the formal benchmarks that govern roadways in Nebraska.
He noted that the Nebraska Department of Transportation Noise Analysis and Abatement Policy, states that anything louder than 66 decibels as an “impact” and should be evaluated for abatement.
“Furthermore, the sound data indicate the average ambident noise is 39.6 decibels; the impacts are thus 32.9 decibels louder than ambident levels and constitute a ‘substantial increase’ warranting abatement per the NDOT’s criteria,” wrote Lillyman.
Lillyman said that the rumble strip panels are discretionary and not required by the manuel on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and asked the county to look into less disruptive countermeasures such as solar-powered flashing LED stop sings, sinusoidal panels and high visibility “STOP AHEAD” pavement legends.
Lillyman acknowledged that those abatement measures are more costly and given that only a few residents are impacted by the noise, said he would be willing to donate his own funds to help cover the county’s cost.
The commissioners thanked Lillyman for his detailed presentation and said they would discuss the matter.
The rumble strips approaching the intersection of W. 56th St. and 30th Ave., (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
