RETURN TO GVA ACTIVITIES

TO: ______________________________________date_______________________

FROM: ____________________________________address_____________________

Re: Route 202 Section 300 Noise Abatement

Dear

_____________________________________________________________________

Route 202 Section 300* in Chester County is being widened to accommodate the

intense development of this part of Pennsylvania. While I support this

project I believe that the quality of life of the residents that live along

this highway is of equal if not overriding importance. PennDOT anticipates

that there will be a 65% increase in traffic on this highway within the next

five years.

Noise abatement is critical. After conducting an ambient noise study, which

showed a noise level in excess of the 67 decibels required for sound walls,

our civic association, the Great Valley Association, favors the installation

of sound walls and an asphalt road surface for adequate noise abatement. I

support this view and believe that the many residential communities affected

by this project also deserve nothing less.

Present day asphalt is smoother than concrete and therefore has better noise

attenuating properties. In fact, on average, asphalt has at least a 3

decibel advantage over concrete in noise reduction, at a minimum. A

three-decibel increase in noise amounts to a doubling of the noise level

created by traffic on a high-speed road such as Route 202. This is VERY

significant statistic is probably one of the reasons why 64% of the

interstate highways in our country are paved with asphalt. Asphalt is also

less expensive to install and to maintain.

It's noteworthy that Section 400 of this project is paved with concrete and

despite assurances that present technology has made concrete less noisy this

is not in evidence and Section 400 is unimpressive in this respect.

We look forward to your favorable support of our noise abatement proposals

for Section 300, which is 80% federally funded and 20% state funded. We

know that you will agree that the growth, which necessitates this expansion,

should not also be the reason for the demise of the residential communities

that surround it.

Thank you.