Table 1 Countries Used/Using Rubberized Asphalt and Resulting Noise Reduction   Country Year Reported Noise level Reduction Belgium 1981 8-10 dB (65-85%) Canada 1991 Shown noise reduction England 1998 Project not completed France 1984 2-3dB/3-5dB (50-75%) Germany 1980 3dB (50%) Austria 1988 3+ dB Netherlands 1988 2.5dB   Within the US, some of the cities and counties that are currently evaluating the use of rubberized asphalt include Tucson AZ, Phoenix AZ, Sacramento CA, Orange CA, Las Angeles CA and San Diego CA. Table 2 States Using Rubberized Asphalt and Resulting Noise Reduction     State   Counties & Cities   Year   Noise Level Reduction Arizona Phoenix, AZ 1990 10dB (88%) Tucson, AZ 1989 6.7dBs (78%) California Sacramento County 1993 7.7 - 5.1 dB   Orange County 1992 3-5 dB on Open Graded asphalt Los Angeles County 1991 3-7 dB San Diego County 1998 Project in process Texas San Antonio 1992 Data not Provided Oregon Corvallis 1994 Data not Provided * Table is not comprehensive. Other studies may have taken place in other states. Since 1992, rubberized asphalt has been used in Sacramento County. Table 3 shows the locations where it has been used. Table 3 Rubberized Asphalt Usage in Sacramento County     Year/s   Location 1992 / 1994 Auburn Boulevard 1992 Folsom Boulevard 1992 / 1993 Alta Arden Expressway 1992 Arden Way 1992 South Watt Avenue 1992 / 1995 Watt Avenue 1002 Van Maren Way 1992 Sunset Ave 1993 Air Base Drive 1993 Chase Drive 1993 Coloma Road 1994 Antelope Road 1996 Marconi Avenue at Watt Avenue 1996 Arden Way at Watt Avenue 1996 Greenback Lane at Hazel Avenue 1996 Fair Oaks Boulevard at Watt Avenue 1996 / 1998 Elkhorn Boulevard 1997 Orange Grove Avenue 1997 Roseville Road 1997 Sly Parkway 1998 Engle Road 1998 San Juan Avenue 1999 Calvine Road   Table 4 Rubberized and Conventional Asphalt Noise Test Results Sacramento County Roadways       Roadway     Pavement Type   Duration of Time Elapsed After Paving   Change in Noise Levels, dB Leq Alta Arden Expressway Rubberized Asphalt 1 month 16 months 6 years -6 dB -5 dB -5 dB Antelope Road Rubberized Asphalt 6 months 5 years -4 dB -3 dB Bond Road Conventional Asphalt 1 month 4 years - 2 dB 0 dB Notes: The change noise levels shown in the far right column represents the average change in noise levels observed on the roadway test site at the nearest measurement locations to the roadways. For Alta Arden and Antelope Road, the change represents the average noise reduction of three test locations for each roadway. For Bond Road, there was only one test location. Due to the time elapsed between the earliest and latest noise measurements, the results were normalized for speed and traffic volume to isolate the noise-reducing properties of the paving materials. Table 5 Sacramento County Noise Element Noise Standards Exterior Noise Level Standard, ldn  Land Use Category Acceptable Conditionally Acceptable Residential 60 75 Agriculture / Residential 65 75 Churches 60 70 Golf Courses 75 80  Office/Commercial/Professional 65 75 Industrial/Utilities/Agriculture 70 80 In addition to the Noise Element Noise Standards above, the General Plan Noise Element includes standards for acceptable noise levels for the interior spaces of noise-sensitive land uses affected by Transportation Noise. Those interior noise level standards are shown in Table 6.  Table 6 Levels In Unoccupied Rooms Affected By Transportation Noise 1. Leq in worst-case hour during periods of use. Location   Average Sound Level1 dBA  Radio studies, recording studios  25-30  Music Rooms  30-35  Concert halls, auditoriums  30-35  Theaters (speech)  30-35  Motion picture theaters  40-45  Churches  35-40  Conference rooms, small offices  40-45  Classrooms  35-45  Public offices, banks, stores  45-50  Hospitals  40-45  Restaurants, cafeterias  45-50  Court rooms  40-45  Libraries  40-45   Table 7 Federal Noise Abatement Criteria [Hourly A-Weighted Sound Level-decibels (dBA)1] Activity Category Leq (h), dBA 10(h), dBA Activity Category Description   A   57 (Exterior)   60 (Exterior) Lands on which serenity and quiet are of extraordinary significance and serve an important public need and where the preservation of those qualities is essential if the area is to continue to serve its intended purpose.   B   67 (Exterior)   70 (Exterior)   Picnic areas, recreation areas, playgrounds, active sports areas, parks, residences, motels, hotels, schools, churches, libraries, and hospitals.   C   72 (Exterior)   75 (Exterior) Developed lands, properties, or activities not included in Categories A or B above.  D  -  -  Undeveloped Lands.  E 52 (Interior)  55 (Interior)  Residences, motels, hotels, public meeting rooms, schools, churches, libraries, hospitals, and auditoriums. 1 Either L10(h) or Leq(h) (but not both) may be used on a project.   Table of Contents | Executive Summary | Introduction | History of Noise Reducing Pavement | The Process of Producing Rubberized Asphalt | Current Uses of Rubberized Asphalt | Tables | Studies of Rubberized Asphalt Outside of Sacramento County | Sacramento County Rubberized Asphalt Noise Studies | Conclusions of the Studies Conducted in Sacramento County | Appendix A - Acoustical Terminology | Appendix B - Noise Standards Commonly Applied to Projects in Sacramento County