DOT 55-04
Contact: Bill Mosley
Thursday, April 22, 2004
Tel.: (202) 366-5580

U.S. Department of Transportation Commemorates Earth Day With $3.7 Million
Grant to Help Port Columbus Airport Neighbors With Noise Insulation

COLUMBUS – For Brittany Hills and AmVet’s Village residents, Earth Day signals the beginning of a more peaceful and quiet neighborhood thanks to the U.S. Department of Transportation and Columbus Regional Airport Authority. The Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a $3.7 million grant which will be made available in the next few days to provide noise insulation for 130 eligible homes and for a noise barrier at the north side of the airport.

The FAA will distribute a total of $307 million in grants to soundproof homes and schools and provide other noise mitigation in at least 29 communities across America during this fiscal year.

“We’ve worked hard to make jet engines quieter and to reduce the number of people affected by aircraft noise,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta. “These investments will bring a little more peace and quiet to people with airports in their neighborhoods.”

The $3.7 million airport improvement grant will support the following initiatives:

* Provide sound insulation for 130 eligible homes located primarily in the Brittany Hills and AmVet’s Village areas within the 65 to 69 Day-Night Level noise contours;
* Design a noise barrier around the airport’s north airfield run-up area;
* Upgrade the airport’s Noise and Flight Track Monitoring system to enhance the information that they receive to better address issues related to aircraft noise;
* Update the airport’s current Part 150 Noise Compatibility Program and noise maps to proactively address noise generated by the current and proposed operations at Port Columbus.

“One of the five key initiatives in our business plan is proactive community involvement and a crucial part of that mission is environmental responsibility and leadership,” said Elaine Roberts, President & CEO of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority. “The Authority is committed to the proper management of noise to achieve a balance between the demands for improved air service and the resulting noise impacts. By partnering with the U.S. DOT and the FAA, we are making this a reality.”


In 1992, the Residential Sound Insulation Program, which receives 80 percent funding from the FAA and 20 percent from the Authority, was begun at Port Columbus. Only homes within the Noise Contour Area, as approved by the FAA, are eligible for treatments that include insulation, acoustical windows, new doors, air-conditioning and heating systems as well as related electrical, drywall, and painting associated with this work. These eligible homeowners are not charged to participate in this voluntary program.

To date, 437 homes have been insulated, with an additional 130 eligible homes scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. Design work has started on the next phase, which includes an additional 140 eligible homes. Depending on funding, those homes could be sound insulated by mid-2005. All totaled, more than 700 homeowners could take part in the Residential Sound Insulation program at an estimated cost of $14 million.

Briefing Room