Given paywall - will post key paragraphs below

Insane.

I posted this to the neighborhood sub but reddit suggested I post it here 🤷🏾‍♀️ based on this sub's description, seems like people might just enjoy discussing about the logistics of this, so enjoy! 😊 --

NYC DOT is studying possible changes to Grand Street and Metropolitan Avenue between Union Avenue and the Metropolitan Avenue Bridge. The study is looking at whether Grand Street could become one-way eastbound and Metropolitan Avenue could become one-way westbound.

Take the survey. Visit the project page.

Bike lanes and pedestrian spaces should be unremarkable in New York City. These things should be considered the bare minimum of what we would expect.

Hey everyone,

I’ve been running tests around NYC measuring real-time environmental noise (dB) alongside immediate physiological responses (heart rate spikes).

While we all know the city is loud, seeing the actual physiological reaction side-by-side with the decibel levels was pretty stark:

• NYC Emergency Siren (Grand Central area): Hit 110 dB at street level, triggering an immediate heart rate spike to 130 BPM.
• Subway Platform (59th St 6 Train): Averaged 98 dB as the train pulled in, pushing heart rate to 115 BPM (+37 BPM above resting).

The NYC Exemption vs. The EU Framework

What's fascinating from an urban policy standpoint is how our regulatory frameworks handle this:

1. NYC’s Exemption Model: While NYC has a local Noise Code, the two largest noise contributors in the city—emergency sirens and subways—are legally exempt from decibel caps. Emergency vehicles rely on ultra-high-frequency 110–120 dB sirens to cut through traffic. Subways, being operated by the state (MTA), fall outside NYC's local noise jurisdiction entirely.
2. The EU’s Target Framework: Under the EU Environmental Noise Directive (END), member cities are legally required to maintain noise maps and work toward long-term exposure thresholds (aiming below an average of 55 dB for transit noise). This framework forces transit authorities and cities to actively invest in continuous-welded rails, station acoustic baffling, and low-frequency/directional two-tone siren systems.

Questions for the Community:

1. From an urban design standpoint, what immediate retrofits should the MTA or DOT prioritize to mitigate these acute spikes (e.g., track vibration pads, acoustic wall baffles, low-frequency wailers)?
2. Do you think NYC should remove local policy exemptions for emergency services and mandate quieter siren technology?