Noise

Conduct and document analyses and prepare NEPA documentation.

Qualified noise professionals

Lead authors on noise studies must have completed the National Highway Institute (NHI) Highway Traffic Noise course or equivalent. 

See our list of Qualified noise professionals (PDF 186KB) for the names and contact information of consultants and WSDOT staff that have met this requirement. If you have taken the course, but are not listed, contact Lindsay Taylor, Lindsay.Taylor@wsdot.wa.gov, with a copy of the Certificate of Training from NHI, or equivalent, to verify qualifications.

Project analysis request and checklist

To determine if your project requires a noise analysis, contact Lindsay Taylor, Lindsay.Taylor@wsdot.wa.gov.  

Authors of noise studies, use the Noise report checklist (PDF 96KB) to include all information required information. Use the Noise report template (DOCX 4501KB) as an outline and for standardized background text to ensure your project documentation meets our criteria.

Traffic noise model

Follow the Traffic Noise Model (TNM) Guidance (PDF 743KB) for the traffic noise analysis.

Document impacts

Follow the ERS-ECS for noise (PDF 154KB) guidance to document impacts for CE projects.

Noise walls

Engineers, refer to the FHWA Noise Barrier Design Handbook when finalizing noise wall design. Engage the affected community regarding noise wall design following our Noise Policy.

Determine if your project will require a nighttime noise variance

If your project requires work at night, the project will need a noise variance if a local agency has noise limits and if work is to occur outside of those limits. Noise limits usually are in effect between 10 pm and 7 am but vary by jurisdictions or type of land use adjoining the construction noise source. If some or all of your work will occur at night, contact Lindsay Taylor at Lindsay.Taylor@wsdot.wa.gov. 

If you know work will be required outside of the noise limits and your project is not exempt, obtain the variance and include conditions in the contract or commitment file.

If you do not know or specify in the contract that there will be nighttime work, the contractor is responsible for obtaining the permit.

In most jurisdictions, daytime noise from construction and maintenance activities is exempt from requirements. Construction and maintenance activities that do not exceed the property line noise level identified by regulations would be exempt. Noise caused during emergency work or to restore property following a public calamity is also exempt.

Underwater noise monitoring

Find guidance noise monitoring and analysis guidance on our Endangered Species & Essential Fish Habitat webpage.

Manuals

Environmental Manual Chapter 446: Noise (PDF 354KB) 

2026 Noise Policy (PDF 1.9MB) - The policies for project-level noise analysis. 

• Appendix 1: State funds option (PDF 490KB)
• Appendix 2: Improving the noise environment when standard options aren't available (PDF 757KB)
• Appendix 3: Traffic noise analysis & mitigation process (PDF 287KB)
• Appendix 4: Contents of the traffic noise analysis/study (PDF 285KB)
• Appendix 5: Highway project types for shoulder use & noise studies (PDF 554KB)

Find information on noise requirements for transit or rail projects from the Federal Transit Administration and the Federal Rail Administration. 

FHWA Noise Barrier Design Handbook

Tools & templates

ERS-ECS for noise (PDF 154KB)

Qualified noise professionals (PDF 186KB)

Noise report checklist (PDF 96KB)

Noise report template (DOCX 4.5MB)

Traffic Noise Model (TNM) Guidance (PDF 743KB)

Archival pile driving reports

Washington State Ferries Projects

• Airborne Vibratory Technical Memo (PDF 748KB) (WSDOT, 2012) – Memorandum describing airborne noise levels from vibratory driving of steel piles at Vashon, Wahkiakum and Keystone Ferry Terminal
• Anacortes Ferry Terminal Vibratory Report (PDF 751KB) (WSDOT, 2007) – Monitoring report on the vibratory pile installation of steel and plastic on steel piles at Anacortes Ferry terminal.
• Anacortes Ferry Terminal Pile Driving Report (PDF 1,517MB) (WSDOT, 2007) – Monitoring report on the impact of steel pile installation at Anacortes Ferry Terminal.
• Bainbridge-Fauntleroy H-Pile Vibratory Report (PDF 5.75MB) (WSDOT, 2019) – Monitoring report on vibratory driving of 12-inch H-piles nearfield and at the limit of detection about 5 miles away.
• Bainbridge Ferry Terminal Pile Driving Report (PDF 3,421KB) (WSDOT, 2005) – Monitoring report on the impact of steel pile installation at Bainbridge Ferry Terminal.
• Bainbridge Island Zone of Influence Memo (PDF 358KB) (WSDOT, 2017) – Memo Monitoring measurements of underwater sound levels in the zone of influence at Bainbridge Island Terminal.
• Background of Sound Levels for Ferry Terminals in Puget Sound (PDF 2.0MB) (WSDOT, 2020) – Compendium of background noise levels near Washington State Ferry Terminals based on updated marine mammal function hearing groups corresponding to 2018 NOAA guidance.
• Cape Disappointment Pile Driving Report (PDF 2,809KB) (WSDOT, 2006) – Monitoring report on use of pile caps for impact driving of steel piles in Puget Sound.
• Coleman Dock Batter Pile Vibratory Noise Report (PDF 1.15MB) (WSDOT, 2012) – Monitoring vibratory noise report data from batter pile at Coleman Dock.
• Colman Dock Test Pile Project 2016 (PDF 2.7MB) (WSDOT, 2016) – Monitoring report on 24- and 30-inch impact-driven steel piles, includes airborne measurements.
• Colman Dock Hydroacoutic Monitoring – Phase 2 (PDF 4.15MB) (Greenbusch, 2019) – Year 2 of annual impact pile driving monitoring report of 24-inch and 36-inch steel piles at Colman Dock.
• Coleman Dock Season 2 Hydroacoustic Monitoring Report (PDF 8.8MB) (Greenbusch, 2019) – Monitoring report measuring underwater sound levels at Coleman Dock.
• Colman Dock Season 3 Hydroacoustic Monitoring Report (PDF 14.5MB) (Greenbusch, 2020) – Monitoring report measuring underwater and airborne sound level measurements at Coleman Dock.
• Coleman Dock Season 4 Hydroacoustic Monitoring Report (PDF 25.4MB) (Greenbusch, 2021) – Monitoring report measuring underwater and airborne sound levels at Coleman Dock.
• Coupeville Ferry Terminal Timber Towers Preservation Project Report (PDF 1.8MB) (WSDOT, 2017) – Monitoring report on impact driving of 24-inch steel pile, includes airborne measurements.
• Duwamish River Peoples Park Habitat Area Monitoring Report (PDF 15.6MB) (Grette, 2021) – Monitoring report measuring underwater noise, atmospheric noise and ground vibration at the Duwamish River People’s Park and Habitat Area T117 for habitat restoration at site 23 and site 25.
• Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility Technical Memo (PDF 34KB) (WSDOT, 2005) – Monitoring report on impact pile driving of steel piles at Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility.
• Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility Pile Driving Report (PDF 562KB) (Jasco, 2005) – Monitoring report on the particle velocity generated by impact pile driving of steel piles at the Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility.
• Edmonds Ferry Terminal Vibratory Technical Memo (PDF 139KB) (WSDOT, 2011) – Monitoring report on vibratory pile driving of steel piles at the Edmonds Ferry Terminal.
• Edmond-Kingston: Vibratory Pile Reset Comparison Report (PDF 1.0MB) (WSDOT, 2017) – Monitoring report on vibratory extraction and reset of 30-inch piles to determine of operation is quieter than typical vibratory driving.
• Friday Harbor Ferry Terminal Report (PDF 5,068KB) (WSDOT, 2005) – Monitoring report on impact pile driving of steel piles using air, diesel and hydraulic hammers and different bubble curtain configurations at Friday Harbor Ferry Terminal.
• Friday Harbor Vibratory Hammer Revised Memo (PDF 197KB) (WSDOT, 2010) – Revised memo monitoring vibratory pile driving results at Friday Harbor Terminal.
• Keystone Ferry Terminal Vibratory Report (PDF 640KB) (WSDOT, 2010) – Monitoring report on vibratory installation of steel piles at keystone Ferry Terminal.
• Mukilteo Ferry Terminal Boring Noise Technical Memo (PDF 190KB) (WSDOT, 2007) – Noise monitoring report on boring operation north of the Mukilteo Ferry Terminal.
• Mukilteo Ferry Terminal Marine Structures Phase 2 Monitoring Report (PDF 3.7MB) (WSDOT, 2018) – Year 1 of impact pile driving monitoring 24-inch steel piles at new Mukilteo Multimodal terminal.
• Mukilteo Ferry Terminal Marine Structures Phase 3 Monitoring Report (PDF 3.7MB) (WSDOT, 2020) – Year 2 of impact pile driving monitoring 24-inch steel piles at the new Mukilteo Multimodal ferry terminal.
• Mukilteo Ferry Terminal Test Pile Project Report (PDF 2,247KB) (WSDOT, 2007) – Noise monitoring report for underwater and airborne noise from impact pile driving of steel and concrete piles using Temporary Noise Attenuation Devices (TNAPS).
• Mukilteo Ferry Terminal Test Pile Project Report (PDF 650KB) (Jasco, 2007) – Noise monitoring report for the underwater noise and background sound levels at distance from the impact test pile project north of the Mukilteo Ferry Terminal.
• Mukilteo Phase 2 Vibratory Zone of influence Memo (PDF 154KB) (WSDOT, 2017) – Monitoring memo vibratory measurements in the zone of influence at Mukilteo Terminal.
• Orcas Island Vibratory Zone of influence Monitoring Memo (PDF 733KB) (WSDOT, 2013) – Monitoring memo vibratory measurements for the removal of timber and installation of steel piles in the zone of influence at Orcas Island Terminal.
• Port Townsend Slip 1 Transfer Span (PDF 4.8MB) (WSDOT, 2014) – Impact pile driving monitoring of 24-inch and 30-inch steel pipe piles measured at a range of 10 meters (midwater depth) and 3H (80% water depth) where H is the water depth at the pile.
• Port Townsend Timber Pile Removal (PDF 129KB) (WSDOT, 2011) – Monitoring report of vibratory removal of timber piles at Port Townsend Ferry Terminal.
• Port Townsend Test Pile Report (PDF 893KB) (WSDOT, 2010) – Monitoring report of vibratory and impact pile installation of steel piles at Port Townsend Ferry Terminal.
• Seattle Ferry Terminal Batter Pile Report (PDF 637KB) (WSDOT, 2012) – Monitoring report of a single battered steel pile at Seattle Ferry Terminal.
• Vashon Ferry Terminal Pile Driving (PDF 1,762KB) (WSDOT, 2017) – Monitoring report of pile driving noise from control piles and noise reducing piles at Vashon Ferry Terminal.
• Vashon Ferry Terminal Vibratory Report (PDF 202KB) (WSDOT, 2010) – Monitoring report of vibratory installation of steel piles at Vashon Ferry Terminal.
• Vashon Terminal Underwater Noise Report (PDF 1.7MB) (WSDOT, 2016) – Monitoring report data collected during impact pile driving at the Vashon Terminal.
• Vashon Test Pile Project 2016 (PDF 1.9MB) (WSDOT, 2016) – Pile driving monitoring report of double walled and mandrel test piles at Vashon, includes airborne measurements.
• Vashon Test Pile Report (PDF 2,967KB) (WSDOT, 2010) -- Monitoring report of impact pile driving of steel piles with modified TNAP at Vashon Ferry Terminal.
• Wahkiakum Ferry Terminal Monitoring Report (PDF 1,208KB) (WSDOT, 2010) – Monitoring report of impact driving of steel piles for Wahkiakum Ferry Terminal on the Columbia River with confined bubble curtain.
• WSF Underwater Background Monitoring Report (PDF 1,112KB) (WSDOT, 2014) – Compendium of background sound levels near various ferry terminals in Puget Sound.

Bridge Projects

• Hood Canal Bridge Report (PDF 4,938KB) (Battelle, 2005) – Monitoring report of impact driving steel piles at the Hood Canal Bridge, Puget Sound
• Hood Canal Bridge Pile Driving Report (PDF 659KB) (Battelle, 2004) – Monitoring report of impact driving steel piles at low tide on the beach near Hood Canal Bridge, Puget Sound
• I-5 Tacoma HOV: Puyallup River Bridge Report (PDF 1.3MB) (WSDOT, 2016) – Monitoring report for 14-inche H-piles during impact driving in the Puyallup River adjacent to I-5.
• I-5 Tacoma HOV: Puyallup River Bridge Report, year 2 (PDF 3.17MB) (WSDOT, 2020) – Monitoring report for 24-inch steel pipe piles with 14-inch H-pile stingers.
• I-90 Snoqualmie pass East, Keechelus Lake Avalanche Bridge Blasting (PDF 1.4MB) (WSDOT, 2016) – Underwater noise monitoring of upland rock blasting.
• I-90 Yakima River Bridges Cle Elum to Ellensburg (PDF 3.3MB) (WSDOT, 2018) – Monitoring report for 24-inch steel pipe piles in Yakima River
• I-90 Yakima River Bridge Ellensburg (PDF 4.0MB) (WSDOT, 2019) – Monitoring report for 24-inch steel pipe piles in Yakima River.
• Keechelus Lake Background Sound Levels Technical Report (PDF 1MB) (WSDOT, 2019) – Monitoring memo measuring background sound levels at Keechelus Lake.
• Manette Bridge Vibratory Technical Memo (PDF 294KB) (WSDOT, 2010) – Monitoring report of vibratory installation of steel piles at the Manette Bridge, WA.
• Manette Bridge Pier Demolition (PDF 1,552KB) (WSDOT, 2012) – Monitoring report of demolition of concrete bridge piers above water with a hoe-ram.
• SR 24 Bridge Replacement Report (PDF 1,374KB) (WSDOT, 2005) – Monitoring report of impact pile driving of steel piles in Yakima river for the SR 24 bridge replacement project.
• SR 202 Evans Creek Technical Memo (PDF 205KB) (WSDOT, 2006) – Monitoring report for upland impact pile driving of steel H-piles.
• SR 202 Evans Creek Bridge (PDF 600KB) (WSDOT, 2006) – Monitoring report for upland impact pile driving of steel piles.
• SR 202 Pile Driving Monitoring Report (PDF 2.2MB) (WSDOT, 2006) – Monitoring report of dry pile driving at Evans Cree Bridge on SR 202.
• SR 240 Bridge Replacement Report (PDF 2,532KB) (WSDOT, 2004) – Monitoring of impact driving of steel piles in Yakima river for SR 240 bridge replacement project.
• SR 240 Bridge Replacement Report (PDF 740KB) (WSDOT, 2003) – Monitoring of impact driving of steel piles in Yakima River for SR 240 bridge replacement project.
• SR 411 Lexington Bridge Report (PDF 486KB) (WSDOT, 2006) – Monitoring report of impact driving of steel piles in the Cowlitz River.
• SR 520 Evergreen Point Underwater Noise Monitoring Report (PDF 1MB) (DredgeTech, 2013) – Monitoring report of underwater noise at the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge on SR 520.
• SR 520 Pontoon Construction Site Marine Piling Removal (PDF 1.6MB) (Confluence, 2020) – Monitoring report on the removal of marine piling for the replacement of the SR 520 Floating Bridge.
• SR 520 Test Pile Project Monitoring Report (PDF 4,216KB) (Illingworth & Rodkin, 2010) – Monitoring report of impact driving of steel piles in Lake Washington using TNAP and DNAP attenuation devices.   
• SR 520 Underwater Noise Monitoring Report (PDF 5.97MB) (Hays, 2019) – Monitoring report on underwater noise for the SR 520 Bridge replacement.
• SR 520 West Connection Bridge Report (WSDOT, 2014) – Monitoring report of impact driving of 24-inch and 30-inch steel piles including airborne measurements.
  • Report (PDF 4.3MB)
  • Appendix (PDF 1.1MB)
• SR 520 West Approach Bridge North Report (PDF 12,454KB) (WSDOT, 2016) – Monitoring report of first year for 24-inch and 30-inch steel pile impact driving including airborne noise measurements.
• SR 520 West Approach Bridge North Report (WSDOT, 2016) – Monitoring report of impact driving of 30-inch steel piles in Lake Washington.
  • Report (PDF 1.3MB)
  • Appendix A (PDF 3.9MB)
  • Appendix B (PDF 1.5MB)
• SR 520 Concrete Pier Demolition Report (PDF 1.9MB) (WSDOT, 2017) – Monitoring report of demolition of concrete bridge piers using hoe-ram.
• SR 529 Ebey Slough Bridge Replacement (PDF 2.0MB) (WSDOT, 2011) – Monitoring report of impact driving of steel piles for underwater and airborne noise at Ebey Slough, Washington.
• SR 529 Ebey Slough Vibratory Technical Memo (PDF 380KB) (WSDOT, 2010) – Monitoring memo on underwater and airborne noise at SR 529 Ebey Slough.

Research Projects

• Acoustic Radiation from a Submerged Pile during Pile Driving (PDF 161KB) (Stockham, Dahl, Reinhall, 2010) – Research report describing how impact hammer energy levels are transferred through a steel pile at Vashon Ferry terminal.
• Analysis of the Port Townsend Underwater Acoustic Background (PDF 307KB) (Stockham, Dahl, Reinhall, 2010) – Research on the best methods to collect and report underwater background sound levels in Puget Sound.
• Brinnon Boulder Buster Technical Memo (PDF 613KB) (WSDOT, 2005) – Memo measuring underwater and airborne noise caused by the Boulder Buster test on four bridge piers.
• Cape Disappointment Pile Driving Report (PDF 11.8MB) (WSDOT, 2006) – Research report data collected of pile driving at Cape Disappointment’s boat launch facility.
• Commencement Bay Double Walled Pile Prototype Measurements (PDF 2.53MB) (Dahl, Reinhall, Dardis, Laughlin, Marver, Soleway and Farrell, 2015)
• Characterizing Underwater Noise from Industrial Pile Driving at Close Range (PDF 310KB) (Stockham, Dahl, Reinhall, 2010) – Research report on characterizing the underwater noise generated during impact pile driving at Vashon Ferry Terminal.
• Eagle Harbor Pile Driving Report (PDF 2.6MB) (Jasco Research, 2005) – Research report on sound pressure and particle velocity measurements from marine pile driving at Bainbridge Island’s Eagle Harbor maintenance facility.
• Investigation of the Performance of a Method to Reduce Pile Driving Generated Underwater Noise (PDF 1,972KB) (Zhou, 2009) – Research report on a new method to reduce underwater noise generated during impact pile driving of steel piles
• Measurements of Pile Driving Noise from Control Piles and Noise-Reduced Piles at Vashon Island Ferry Dock (PDF 2.6MB) (Dahl et al., 2016) – Monitoring of far-field noise during test pile project at Vashon to evaluate drivability of double walled and mandrel piles.
• Underwater Noise Reduction of Marine Pile Driving Using a Double Pile (PDF 1.6MB) (Reinhall et al. 2016) – Monitoring of double wall and mandrel piles at Vashon ferry terminal.
• Underwater Sound Propagation Pile Driving Report (PDF 1.1MB) (UW, 2011) – Research report that used a finite element model for sound generation on underwater noise impacts from pile driving.

Track & manage commitments

Environmental Manual Chapter 490: Tracking environmental commitments during design (PDF 208KB) - To track commitments.

Environmental Manual Chapter 590: Incorporating environmental commitments into contracts (PDF 343KB) - To manage commitments.

Commitment tracking system (CTS) web application - Track and manage environmental commitments. Find instructions on how to use CTS on the CTS help menu.

Lindsay Taylor
Air, Noise, Energy Program 
Lindsay.Taylor@wsdot.wa.gov