Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Transportation / Life It's Gonna Get a Lot Noisier
Posted by Christopher Frizzelle on Wed, Jun 3, 2009 at 12:12 PM
Last week, Sound Transit sent out a newsletter (sign up for them here) about the I-5 closures necessary to get the ground ready for "the tunnel boring machine that will dig the light rail tunnels between Capitol Hill and downtown Seattle" (this is why the Olive Way off-ramp is closed for a year); about the excavating of the UW station and the mining of 11,400 feet of twin tunnels from the University District to Capitol Hill; and about Sound Transit's efforts to get a noise variance permit to allow them to make construction noise 24/7 for two years at the Capitol Hill station.
As Sound Transit's community outreach specialist Jeff Munnoch just explained over the phone, all of the dirt they remove to make the underground tunnel that will go from the Capitol Hill station (at Broadway and John) and down Pine Street to downtown—all that dirt will be hauled out of the earth at the Capitol Hill station. The things that will be making noise 24/7 are "generators and lights and things like that in order to safely operate below ground" and all the trucks that the dirt is going to be loaded into and hauled off the site in. Since I live across the street from the site, I already spend the early part of every day tossing and turning to the sounds of construction noise. But at least it stops at night. I'm trying to imagine the BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-ing of backing-up trucks for the next two years on a continuous loop, and it sort of makes me want to put a bullet in my brain. Then again, between the junkies howling about their problems at 3:00 in the morning ("THE ALIENS! The aliens TOOK MY CHILD!!!") and that lit-with-nuclear-fuel U.S. Bank sign, it's not exactly a peaceful corner to begin with.
Still, some neighbors are pissed. One neighbor, Carole Glickfield, sent an email to The Stranger today:
Already Sound Transit's daytime tunnel and station construction at Broadway East & John has interfered with people's sleep and peace of mind. I am two blocks from the construction site and have been hugely disturbed by the noise. Now they are proposing to work 24 hours a day. This is inhuman. Neighbors need to let them know that this is not acceptable. Sound Transit is having a meeting on June 17th 6-8 PM at 915 E. Pine, 2nd floor (1/2 block east of Broadway). I hope the meeting will be attended by everyone who objects to this vicious override of people's right to reside in their own home without relentless, horrible noise 24 hours a day.
I asked Munnoch—whose job is to be Sound Transit's liaison to the community—if he's heard many complaints about the proposed around-the-clock noise, and he said, "Not many on the noise, but that's why we want to hold this upcoming meeting. One of the things on Capitol Hill is it's already a noisy environment." That meeting on Wednesday, June 17 is billed as a Capitol Hill Construction Open House, and it's happening in the Century Ballroom of the Oddfellows building.
I'm not fully against 24/7 construction, considering I'd like to see a light-rail station ASAP and considering there already is ambient noise 24/7 (the Dick's across the street is open til 2:00 am), but not all noise is equal. My input? For the love of things right and good, disable the BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-ing on backing up trucks. Just cut the cords. No one can fall asleep to that.
Share via
1
They could blast sirens every minute in my front yard for the next two years if I could be within 2 blocks of a light rail station. The payoff is way bigger than any temporary (however horrible) nuisance.
3
"it sort of makes me want to put a bullet in my brain"
sounds like a great idea that would really solve all of your problems
sounds like a great idea that would really solve all of your problems
4
Whiners.
I've lived near construction that seemed to go on endlessly and it never bothered me. But then, I usually don't have trouble falling or staying asleep through lights, noise or other ruckus. A drunk driver once plowed into my house when I was a kid and I slept through that, the police that came afterward and the tow truck. I woke up in the morning to find shards of windshield in the driveway and asked my parents what'd happened. You could probably rob me in the night pretty easily, but please don't.
I've lived near construction that seemed to go on endlessly and it never bothered me. But then, I usually don't have trouble falling or staying asleep through lights, noise or other ruckus. A drunk driver once plowed into my house when I was a kid and I slept through that, the police that came afterward and the tow truck. I woke up in the morning to find shards of windshield in the driveway and asked my parents what'd happened. You could probably rob me in the night pretty easily, but please don't.
5
Those trucks beep for a reason, part of which is in the interest of pedestrian safety. Shutting them off would be about as dumb as riding your bike on the freeway.
6
Once underground constructions starts, if you keep the apartment you should at least ask for a rent reduction, to offset their overwhelming likelihood of rates being jacked up after the station opens.
8
the lady lives on broadway and john. unless she lives in toledo, she should know that peace of mind does not exist at that intersection.
9
Light Rail is useless and a waste of money.
Capitol Hill needs more buses, more parking and fewer bike lanes. At this rate, it will be nothing but a wasteland, especially when the light rail tunnels start collapsing buildings like they've done on capitol hill.
Capitol Hill needs more buses, more parking and fewer bike lanes. At this rate, it will be nothing but a wasteland, especially when the light rail tunnels start collapsing buildings like they've done on capitol hill.
10
you gloat about blocking freeways during rush hour and then expect us to care about some little truck beeps disturbing your sleep?
god you are a prick.
11
Christopher, I waited at the bus stop between your building and the job site last week, and I only heard trucks that were fitted with the "ccccrrrrrrr cccrrrrrrr cccrrrrrrrrr" sound (like loud static or scraping) instead of the "beeeeep beeeep beeeep" sound. I remember thinking how much better it blends in than the beeping would.
That said, I don't think neighbors should be forced to absorb more of the cost of construction. Keeping the noise down during times that it is presently illegal to make loud noise would increase costs. It's far less expensive to get the law changed to allow the louder noise than to put up sound barriers, use quieter equipment, and schedule the loudest activity for daytime. Capitol Hill is already helping lower costs by dealing with cut-and-cover construction instead of deep boring, and our neighbors on First Hill are helping lower costs by not getting the station they were supposed to get.
Remember Sound Transit's slogan when they convinced Capitol Hill to support this project in the late 1990's? "You'll never know we're here."
That said, I don't think neighbors should be forced to absorb more of the cost of construction. Keeping the noise down during times that it is presently illegal to make loud noise would increase costs. It's far less expensive to get the law changed to allow the louder noise than to put up sound barriers, use quieter equipment, and schedule the loudest activity for daytime. Capitol Hill is already helping lower costs by dealing with cut-and-cover construction instead of deep boring, and our neighbors on First Hill are helping lower costs by not getting the station they were supposed to get.
Remember Sound Transit's slogan when they convinced Capitol Hill to support this project in the late 1990's? "You'll never know we're here."
13
This whole post makes me fume. Invest in some earplugs and get over it, you effing babies. (and I rarely say the eff word but COME. ON!)
14
Not at 3 a.m., you fucking dipshit.
I made the mistake of painting my bedroom the same week a construction dig broke ground near my apartment. Since I was sleeping in my living room (which overlooks the street), every morning at 7 a.m. I was awoken by dump trucks rattling past my apartment, at least one truck every five minutes. This kept up apace for two weeks, slowly tapering off over another couple of weeks. Fortunately I was able to move back to the bedroom after a couple days.
Good luck getting through that, Christopher. You might want to consider moving.
@8,
No, that's where Frizzelle lives. She lives two blocks away, which means she cannot be at John/Broadway. There are a number of residential streets near the construction site that are relatively peaceful both day and night.
One of the things on Capitol Hill is it's already a noisy environment.
Not at 3 a.m., you fucking dipshit.
I made the mistake of painting my bedroom the same week a construction dig broke ground near my apartment. Since I was sleeping in my living room (which overlooks the street), every morning at 7 a.m. I was awoken by dump trucks rattling past my apartment, at least one truck every five minutes. This kept up apace for two weeks, slowly tapering off over another couple of weeks. Fortunately I was able to move back to the bedroom after a couple days.
Good luck getting through that, Christopher. You might want to consider moving.
@8,
No, that's where Frizzelle lives. She lives two blocks away, which means she cannot be at John/Broadway. There are a number of residential streets near the construction site that are relatively peaceful both day and night.
15
"They could blast sirens every minute in my front yard for the next two years if I could be within 2 blocks of a light rail station. The payoff is way bigger than any temporary (however horrible) nuisance."
Yep. It's shit, but the benefits far outweigh the big (temporary) inconvenience.
Yep. It's shit, but the benefits far outweigh the big (temporary) inconvenience.
16
ST only working days: complain construction is taking too long.
ST working 24/7: complain construction is too noisy.
Complain complain complain.
ST working 24/7: complain construction is too noisy.
Complain complain complain.
17
This project is not going to pander to whining about noise. VOTED on and long overdue.
Grin and bear it - or move - (6-8 years folks)
major construction is ALWAYS noisy, dirty, lots of heavy equipment - that is just the drill. NO other way to build the thing.
Sorry, the brutal truth that has been in your face for two years.
Go Transit - Build.
Grin and bear it - or move - (6-8 years folks)
major construction is ALWAYS noisy, dirty, lots of heavy equipment - that is just the drill. NO other way to build the thing.
Sorry, the brutal truth that has been in your face for two years.
Go Transit - Build.
18
if you're caught in construction noise for a few years , AFTER WORK — consider that you should maybe take your vitriol as a sign that your life's priorities are badly skewed.... Honestly, there are things in this world more worthy of your wrath. I'm not a construction worker, but I'm inclined to become one, if only to piss you assholes off. Maybe after enough times, you'll get it. You'll see that it's not a selfish thing on the part of the construction workers, but a gift to your sorry asses.
19
Some people complain when the grunting gets too loud during hot sex.
All of you need to meet who are complaining before much gets done, so you can cry together, then do a mass suicide.
Your names will be enshrined in Seattle history.
All of you need to meet who are complaining before much gets done, so you can cry together, then do a mass suicide.
Your names will be enshrined in Seattle history.
20
Perhaps ST could offer 6 months of free or reduced rides for people who have to put up with the construction inconveniences. That would be considerate, and wouldn't cost them nary anything, plus: PR win.
As to the noise: Earplugs, they don't suck. Also: People living right next to the EL in Chicago get used to the noise and sleep right through it... often waking up with a sense of something 'wrong' when their line is temporarily shut down.
Also: Noise cancellation devices. They exist.
It's also, also possible to construct sound-deadening shields out of piping. Wm. Burroughs once mentioned an old Sci.Am. article about this (1968, I think).
As to the noise: Earplugs, they don't suck. Also: People living right next to the EL in Chicago get used to the noise and sleep right through it... often waking up with a sense of something 'wrong' when their line is temporarily shut down.
Also: Noise cancellation devices. They exist.
It's also, also possible to construct sound-deadening shields out of piping. Wm. Burroughs once mentioned an old Sci.Am. article about this (1968, I think).
22
Okay, show of hands:
How many of you telling Frizzelle to STFUA live anywhere near (say, within 4 - 5 blocks) the construction site?
Thought so.
How many of you telling Frizzelle to STFUA live anywhere near (say, within 4 - 5 blocks) the construction site?
Thought so.
23
I live in the building on 12th and Pine directly across from condo construction, kitty-corner to a police station, and just down the block from a fire station. Trust me when I say that after a few weeks of adjusting, you can sleep through damn near anything.
24
OMG! The city is so loud! Its filled with city noises! BLAH BLAH BLAH! Its too hot! There's too much snow! Not in my Neighborhood!
26
@22 Yes, if you don't live near this particular construction site then you can't possibly have experienced loud noises at inconvenient times. So just shut your damn pie holes!
27
I live 2 blocks from the dig site and if it means finishing earlier than 2016, I say go 24x7x365 and get it done.
28
being married to a person who snores loudly is a thousand times worse.
I'm prepping for this and regularly wear earplugs to bed.
I'm prepping for this and regularly wear earplugs to bed.
30
It needs to get done. @9 ... the buses suck. Have god aweful suspension and brakes, ride WITH traffic, and over the god damn pot holes.
GOD THE BUSES ARE A WORLD OF SUCK!
Mass transit in Seattle is decades behind most major metropolitan areas of areas of our urban density. Seattle doesn't have the lateral expansion area like a desert city to go without mass transit like Pheonix, Houston, etc. etc.
Get it done, get it over with, buy ear plugs ... your property values will go up.
GOD THE BUSES ARE A WORLD OF SUCK!
Mass transit in Seattle is decades behind most major metropolitan areas of areas of our urban density. Seattle doesn't have the lateral expansion area like a desert city to go without mass transit like Pheonix, Houston, etc. etc.
Get it done, get it over with, buy ear plugs ... your property values will go up.
32
not getting enough sleep makes it harder for christopher to spend friday afternoons destroying goodwill towards cyclists.
trying to get cyclists killed is not easy! he needs to be well rested!
33
Well, when the noise came from Nightclubs Sloggers said those impacted should A) realize they live in a big city B) Move to the suburbs.
I think it is just another example of the City saying "Do as I say. Not as I do."
I think it is just another example of the City saying "Do as I say. Not as I do."
34
@5 you have obviously never driven a dump truck before. Those beeps are the trucks talking to each other, they are like dolphins. We still haven't decoded most of their conversations but we are making progress.
35
I was waiting in the bus tunnel today, after a hot, noisy ride on the bus, and a beautiful, sleek light rail train went gliding by. I sighed....
36
GOLD STAR COMMENT:
"when the noise came from Nightclubs Sloggers said those impacted should A) realize they live in a big city B) Move to the suburbs." (33)
"when the noise came from Nightclubs Sloggers said those impacted should A) realize they live in a big city B) Move to the suburbs." (33)
37
I live across from Trader Joes. I have trucks unloading from 10-11PM most nights and it sucks. On the other hand, I'm going to buy some ear plugs TODAY, and then I'll get over it.
38
I live in same building at Broadway and John and I'm also pretty apprehensive about 24/7 construction noise. There's a big difference between ambient Broadway noise (which we implicitly agree to when we signed our leases) and the din of major construction.
39
You implicitly agreed to Sound Transit noise, too, as these plans have been in effect a long, long, long, long time.
40
If they work through the night, you'll complain about the noise. If they don't, you'll complain when the project has been taking too long. If it's nightclub noise, or in some other neighborhood, you'll tell the affected residents to shut up and deal with it.
But now that it's right by where you live, and it's construction noise, suddenly it's such a huge fucking deal, and how dare Sound Transit try to get this project done faster, because you're apparently incapable of buying and using earplugs.
It's like your sense of entitlement is migrating from your Critical Mass posts to everything else you're posting on Slog. Get a grip, man!
But now that it's right by where you live, and it's construction noise, suddenly it's such a huge fucking deal, and how dare Sound Transit try to get this project done faster, because you're apparently incapable of buying and using earplugs.
It's like your sense of entitlement is migrating from your Critical Mass posts to everything else you're posting on Slog. Get a grip, man!
41
The BEEP BEEP BEEPs are there to save lives and they've saved maybe one life since 1996. Agreed, get rid of the damn BEEP BEEP BEEP, but it'll never happen.
42
Carole Glickfield is a tyrant - you should not value anything she says. If god existed she would complain to her/him that the sun was too bright. I used to live in an apartment complex with her and she was a nightmare - she is one of those people who complains about everything no matter how minuscule.
What up stranger - for years we've seen stories and posts about how we need mass transit etc. and now building mass transit is too loud?
What up stranger - for years we've seen stories and posts about how we need mass transit etc. and now building mass transit is too loud?
43
If you live on Capitol Hill and alcohol isn't helping you sleep every night, YOU ARE DOING IT WRONG.
45
Humans tend to fixate on an annoyance once its enters their consciousness: An itch, the hum of an appliance while trying to sleep, the douchebag chewing loudly on his carrot sticks in the lunchroom, the scent of your cube-mate's stinky perfume, comments from certain Sloggers ;P and I could go on and on and on.
Capitol Hill already has a ton of noise and has had its fair share of construction and events. The round the clock construction is just piling onto the existing bustle. Anyone who moved onto the Hill near Broadway had to know the round the clock noise was part of the package, and millions of citizens deal with round the clock noise just fine. Otherwise, residential neighborhoods in major burgs like SF, NYC and Chicago would not sustain themselves. Noise at night alone isn't going to ruin anyone's lives: Anyone in Capitol Hill who couldn't take it wouldn't be living there in the first place.
Carole Glickfield has likely fixated on the noise that began once crews began work on the ST line, and she has quite possibly blown it up in her mind (and by proxy of her actions, others' minds as well) to be something far worse than it actually is.
Capitol Hill already has a ton of noise and has had its fair share of construction and events. The round the clock construction is just piling onto the existing bustle. Anyone who moved onto the Hill near Broadway had to know the round the clock noise was part of the package, and millions of citizens deal with round the clock noise just fine. Otherwise, residential neighborhoods in major burgs like SF, NYC and Chicago would not sustain themselves. Noise at night alone isn't going to ruin anyone's lives: Anyone in Capitol Hill who couldn't take it wouldn't be living there in the first place.
Carole Glickfield has likely fixated on the noise that began once crews began work on the ST line, and she has quite possibly blown it up in her mind (and by proxy of her actions, others' minds as well) to be something far worse than it actually is.
47
Remember noise is mitigated by the sight of construction guys - priceless and value added.
Skin, sweat, hair, hard hat and dick - heaven has a price. What is a little noise.
At a young age, Chistopher has dried up. Sad, sad, sad.
Frizzy, you have ruined the rep. of gay men all over the world .. sad, sad, sad.
Skin, sweat, hair, hard hat and dick - heaven has a price. What is a little noise.
At a young age, Chistopher has dried up. Sad, sad, sad.
Frizzy, you have ruined the rep. of gay men all over the world .. sad, sad, sad.
48
@42: As I read it, the complaints are not about regular construction noise, but about Sound Transit's attempt to get permission to generate noise that would otherwise be illegal.
I hope that everyone who is interested considers whether this is, as Sound Transit would likely prefer to have you believe, a matter of speeding construction, or if it's a way of reducing costs. I understand that because this is a public project, this would be a reduction of costs we will incur, but that reduction would come at the cost of quality of life for people near the site.
If Sound Transit wants to work at night, they should find a way to do it quietly. That probably won't come cheap, but it might be cheaper than letting the project run as long as was originally planned. When we approved this project, we didn't approve construction that creates an unlawful amount of noise.
What good are noise ordinances if we waive them whenever someone wants to get his job completed ahead of time or under budget?
I hope that everyone who is interested considers whether this is, as Sound Transit would likely prefer to have you believe, a matter of speeding construction, or if it's a way of reducing costs. I understand that because this is a public project, this would be a reduction of costs we will incur, but that reduction would come at the cost of quality of life for people near the site.
If Sound Transit wants to work at night, they should find a way to do it quietly. That probably won't come cheap, but it might be cheaper than letting the project run as long as was originally planned. When we approved this project, we didn't approve construction that creates an unlawful amount of noise.
What good are noise ordinances if we waive them whenever someone wants to get his job completed ahead of time or under budget?
49
Aw, @25, that's so CUTE! You got all mad and excited at the same time! Better have mommy check those Underoos, you might need a changing.
And BTW, is your avatar, a couple of Playskool figures having anal sex, or something? Your mommy's going to wash your mouth out with soap if she catches you, you know.
And BTW, is your avatar, a couple of Playskool figures having anal sex, or something? Your mommy's going to wash your mouth out with soap if she catches you, you know.
50
I recommend a solid hour of 130-decibel early Whitehouse or other extreme noise music through headphones, or perhaps just a vigorous romp through a beer keg with an electric saw. You'll soon be deaf, and construction noise won't bother you ever again.
51
The devil is in the details. I'd wait to see what kinds of noise they are talking about, how loud, when, where, and with what strategies for mitigation. Then I could decide whether I thought the noise would be tolerable.
52
You obviously have never lived in a major city. The reason those cities work is because people agree not to be completely unreasonable to each other. Get this. In most neighborhoods in Manhattan, it's quiet at night. (Try walking around Greenwich Village late while making a lot of noise. It's guaranteed you will be screamed at. You should consider yourself lucky if the abuse isn't worse than that.) On Capitol Hill, even on Broadway, it's quiet on weeknights and very late on weekends.
Waiving the noise ordinance on this project would not be tolerated in a real city.
millions of citizens deal with round the clock noise just fine. Otherwise, residential neighborhoods in major burgs like SF, NYC and Chicago would not sustain themselves.
You obviously have never lived in a major city. The reason those cities work is because people agree not to be completely unreasonable to each other. Get this. In most neighborhoods in Manhattan, it's quiet at night. (Try walking around Greenwich Village late while making a lot of noise. It's guaranteed you will be screamed at. You should consider yourself lucky if the abuse isn't worse than that.) On Capitol Hill, even on Broadway, it's quiet on weeknights and very late on weekends.
Waiving the noise ordinance on this project would not be tolerated in a real city.
53
After years of heaping scorn on people who show up to testify at community meetings asking for development to be respectful of the neighborhood it occurs in, and labeling all such advocacy NIMBYism, this hypocritical post really takes the cake.
54
OHMYGAW PEOPLE ARE BEING INCONVENIENCED!
you didn't seem to worry about that on your little bike mafia run, frizzelle.
you didn't seem to worry about that on your little bike mafia run, frizzelle.
56
I ride my bike on the freeway: anyone inconvenienced is a douche.
Construction near my apartment that inconveniences me: other people are douches.
Construction near my apartment that inconveniences me: other people are douches.
57
Though you don't really define "quiet", I guess we'll take your word, and your anecdotal evidence, for it, kesh.
59
Do you know how other cities deal with major construction projects? They get the fuck over it. Seriously... you want a quiet neighborhood, move to green lake. Nothing but sissies in this damn city.
Most Commented on Slog
-
WTF? by Dan Savage
-
Your Wife Died Alone... by Dan Savage
-
Meanwhile in Vancouver by Dan Savage
-
Is Your Teen Out of Control... And Smoking Hot? by Dan Savage
-
Health at Every Size by Dan Savage
-
PETA vs. Thanksgiving by Dan Savage
-
The Cost (and Fear) of Dying by Anthony Hecht
-
The Democrats Have 60 Votes in the Senate for Health Care Reform by Jonathan Golob
-
SL Letter of the Day: Hot For Twinks by Dan Savage
-
Boy-Nerds Offended by Cootie-Ridden "Girl" Movie by Paul Constant
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
Comments (59) RSS