State: No more I-15 sound walls for RB

Rancho Bernardans living along Interstate 15 will not get more sound walls to reduce noise, according to a Caltrans official.

RB Planning Board’s Regional Issues Committee gave residents the opportunity to tell I-15 Corridor director Gustavo Dallarda their experiences with freeway noise that impacts their residential quality of life.

However, Dallarda told the dozen residents in the audience of the Sept. 30 meeting that even if their noise levels qualify for a sound wall, the projects are too costly, according to state and federal guidelines.

Three walls were built for some homes in High Country West, Playmor and Tierra Del Sol, but that is because both the noise level and cost requirements were met six years ago, Dallarda said.

High Country West resident George Cooke, who in 2002 was president of the neighborhood’s homeowners association, said at some homes it was impossible to carry on a conversation in the yards and there was a noticeable change in noise level after the wall was built.

“We analyze noise readings and model all receptors along the corridor,” Dallarda said. “Most (measurement spots) are residential properties. We look at 20-year traffic data and assume the worst-case scenario — the maximum amount of cars at the maximum speed of the freeway.”

Dallarda said noise levels typically drop when the freeway is congested because vehicles are traveling slower.

To qualify for a wall, noise levels have to stay at 66 decibels or increase by at least 12 decibels and the addition of a wall has to decrease impact by at least five decibels, Dallarda said, adding it is “very difficult” to abate noise on the second-story of a house, due to the wall height required.

Even though Dallarda said that along the eight miles of freeway that separate Rancho Bernardo, “if you want us to come back and take readings, we’ll take more” he added, “we don’t have funds to build more noise walls in Rancho Bernardo.”

Dallarda can be reached at 619-701-0472 to schedule a noise reading, pending staff availability.

He told attendees they need to put pressure on elected officials and talk to San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) to see if guidelines can be changed on the national level.

Bob Crovetti, an Eastview resident who lives about four blocks from I-15, said removing landscaping for freeway construction has made the noise problem worse.

“Trees are gone, the hills are flattened and now there is just a chain link fence,” Crovetti said. “Sound walls will not solve the problem.

“I don’t use my yard anymore because (noise) is so annoying,” Crovetti said. “My quality of life has decreased considerably.”

Patti Perna, a Bernardo Heights resident, said she also sees a connection between a lack of landscaping and increase in noise.

Dallarda said landscaping does not provide as much noise buffer as a wall, but sections between State Route 56 and Camino del Norte, and Duenda Road to Casa de las Campanas (near the West Bernardo Drive exit) will get new landscaping in the coming weeks.

Frank Leamy, who lives on Bernardo Vista Drive, said he has been researching the issue for 10 years and blames the concrete grooved road surface for the increase in noise.

Dallarda said asphalt — which is quieter — cannot be used because of the frequent maintenance it requires. The materials used to construct the freeway are based on state regulations, he added.