October 31, 2001
Honorable Rick Santorum
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510-3804
Subject: Route 202 Section 300 Expansion
Ref: Senator Santorum’s letter dated August 30, 2001
Dear Senator Santorum,
We appreciate your response to my letter concerning noise abatement for Route 202 as well as Secretary Bradley L. Mallory’s comments regarding the noise level. As you know the Great Valley is the location of Valley Forge National Park and most people moved here because of the historic and bucolic nature of the valley. It provides the residents with a respite from the turmoil of everyday life, which is sorely needed in these troubled times.
Traversing the north side of the valley is the Pennsylvania Turnpike, soon to be widened, and on the south side is Route 202, which is being widened to six lanes. The noise emanating from the present four lanes of Route 202 probably has increased two fold or more over the past twenty years as the commercial development of the valley has taken place. One does not have to spend a lot of time here to become acquainted with how intrusive the noise pollution is.
The Great Valley Association commissioned an ambient noise study which was done in June 1999. It is part of the official record of the Project Advisory Committee to the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC). That study revealed that the noise level related to Route 202 is as high as seventy (70) decibels. The Federal Highway Administration stipulates that with a level of 67 decibels that proper noise abatement must be provided. We believe that we meet the needed warrants and qualify for sound walls. A preliminary study done by the DVRPC supports that view.
However, in the transition area from Section 400, which extends into Section 300 for over one mile (at the intersection of Swedesford Road and Route 202 up to North Valley Road) sound walls have been installed on the south side of the highway to North Valley Road but not on the north side. This magnifies the already high noise level and reflects it into the residential area on the north side, making outside conversation virtually impossible. Needless to say this is of great concern to us.
As for the road surface asphalt is quieter than concrete. With all due respect to the comments from Secretary Mallory, we want the quietest road possible not the second quietest. We are convinced that in addition to sound walls a full depth asphalt road will attenuate noise better. Asphalt, at a minimum, is three (3) decibels quieter than concrete. Three decibels mean a forty-one (41%) difference in noise pollution. Depending upon the type of asphalt surface installed the difference can be in excess of six (6) decibels. Six decibels represents a doubling of the noise. Asphalt is safe and has the added advantage of being less costly.
The Great Valley Association has worked closely with PennDOT on this project, as Secretary Mallory noted and we are represented on the Project Advisory Committee. Therefore, we want do everything possible to assure a favorable outcome for the project. Nevertheless, while we support the expansion we believe that the quality of life of the residents is of equal if not overriding importance.
We look forward to your support, and that of our other elected officials, in our quest to have a safe road constructed but also the quietest road possible for Section 300.
Yours truly,
Joseph F. Maxwell
President
2310 Pine View Drive
Malvern, PA 19355
Tel: 610 644 2205
CC Gov. Mark Schweiker
Sec. Bradley Mallory
Sen. Arlen Specter
Rep. Curt Welldon
Rep. Don Young
Sen. Ernest Hollings