City Hall - LG assigned this issue to Inspectional Services - AT (Admin)

Inspectional Services - AT (Admin) assigned this issue to License Commission - AB (Noise)

Thank you for using SeeClickFix: Specific to the noise question only. In accordance with Cambridge Municipal Code 8.16.070: Restrictions on noise emitted from construction sites, the section shall not be applicable to impact devices. If the pile driving is taking place outside of the weekday allowable hours of 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. or outside of the allowable hours on Saturday, Sunday or holiday of 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., please reopen this complaint and I will address the noise issue accordingly. Or you can email me directly at aboyer@cambridgema.gov
Thank you,
Andrea Boyer

I understand that the Cambridge statutes have been in such a way, under the corrupt pressure of the construction lobby, as to allow this sort of horrific and "maddening" (as it is called below) noise. However, that doesn't mean that the City cannot ask the contractor to put up sound baffles or to mitigate the inconvenience as much as possible, for example by asking them not to begin pile-driving until after 7 am. Renters in Massachusetts have a right to "quiet enjoyment" (Statute 186) of their rental properties, and this clearly interferes with that. I did a quick poll of Arlington residents subscribed to the Arlington List, and many people instantly contacted me to complain (last names withheld). Here is a sampling:

Yes - I can hear it from Winter St. - it's been maddening. Yesterday was the only day I didn't hear it, when someone was jackhammering out on Mass. Ave. That was a nice break.
-- Sue Lindner

I've heard it for weeks & wondered what it was.
-- Emily Snyder

So that's what is making the noise! I have been wondering what it was - and agree with you that it is obnoxious. I work from home a couple of days a week (I live at the top of Varnum near Mass Ave, so we are neighbors) and the constant pounding can be heard even with the windows closed. I'd love to know if anything can be done.
-- Sharon G.

Thanks for speaking out about the pounding pile driver sound. We, too, (my wife and I) have been bothered by this incessant noise, which carries a surprisingly long way (we live on Hopkins Rd. between Pleasant Street and Spy Pond, at least a mile away). Like you, we're pretty annoyed by hearing it start up every morning in the distance, like the Excedrin headache from hell. I wonder if they could bring in another pile driver crew or two and get it over with faster? Or maybe there's a less poundy way? Seems like we've been hearing it all summer.
-- David S.

I live on Cleveland Street and it’s annoying here.
-- Cheryl

It's annoying on Jason St in the center.
-- David B

I’ve been waking up to it daily on Osborne Rd. off of Margaret St. near Thorndike Field—it just feels like a migraine-in-the-making. not a pleasant way to start the day…
helene
Helena M.

I live on Parker St I and the noise from the constant pile driving is quite loud. Makes me even more worried about what an eventual Mugar development would sound like.
-- Norman S.

Yes, me too....It's hard to remember what it was like to live in a quiet neighborhood.
-- Martha I

Yes, I have been hearing that horrible bang, bang, bang.? Thank you for
explaining what is causing it.400 more posts to bang in?? Augh!
- Darcy D, Magnolia Park

I haven't been awakened by the pile driver noise (I can sleep through a
lot!) but the sound is audible at the Mass. Ave. end of Thorndike Street.
I was wondering what it was ...
-- Laura L

I hear it at an irritable level out by Spy Pond (near Mass Ave), but I work in Cambridge all day. If I had to listen to it all day, especially at the volume it is closer to Alewife Station, it would drive me insane.
-- Kristina SC.

No new data.

Despite the measured-noise exemption for impact devices, the pile-driving vibrations constitute a non-measured noise disturbance in violation of section 8.16.080(I), as follows:

8.16.080 - Non-measured noise disturbances.

Noise Disturbances Prohibited. The following acts are declared to be loud, disturbing and unnecessary noises in violation of this chapter, but said enumeration shall not be deemed to be exclusive. Non-commercial public speaking and public assembly activities conducted on any public space or public right-of-way shall be exempt from the operation of this section. Bell towers and clock towers with bells or chimes shall be exempt from the operation of this section. (Ord. 1206, Added, 07/27/1998) . . .

I. Vibration. Operating or permitting the operation of any device that creates vibration which is above the vibration perception threshold of an individual at or beyond the property boundary of the source if on private property or at fifty feet from the source if on a public space or public right-of-way. For the purposes of this section, "vibration perception threshold" means the minimum ground- or structure-borne vibrational motion necessary to cause a normal person to be aware of the vibration by such direct means as, but not limited to, sensation by touch or visual observation of moving objects.

Thank you for the additional comments.

You are welcome! Thank you for following through on this issue.

The pile driving noise can be heard as far away as Rindge and Cedar in North Cambridge, a mile away. I didn't realize that the pile driving I've been hearing was coming from Alewife so it's got to be terrible near the construction. Can we leave the issue open until there has some mitigation or at least an ETA of when they will be finished?

I have sent videos of the noise in my neighborhood here in Arlington both to Inspectional Services and to the Arlington Board of Health office, and the folks there are looking into it. In the meantime, here is a link to one of the videos, for folks in Cambridge who want to hear what the noise is like 1/2-1 mile away, here on my back porch overlooking Magnolia Field:
https://youtu.be/sStfgz9gfkM

The banging is so penetrating that even in my bedroom with the windows closed and a fan on, it wakes me every morning at 7 am. There are noise shrouds available commercially for pile-drivers, and I would like the contractor to get one immediately. The quality of life of the citizenry should count for something.

Please limit construction noise, at least to the Arlington start time of 8 AM! I'm disabled, and am stuck at home most of the time... and this noise is miserable!

Better communication would help: project time frames, what to expect and when, etc. How long will the pile-driving last? What comes next, and what can Cambridge and Arlington residents expect from that in terms of noise and other disruption? Lack of dependable information leads to a feeling of hopelessness and helplessness, which exasperates the frustration.

Can the company or town offer any good-will resources to alleviate inconvenience? Ex: Noise-blocking headphones, surveys for working time preferences, special opening reception upon completion, direct line of communication with contractor (website for map-based comments so they can see trends in location/times of greatest impact). I'm sure there are many other (better) resources that others could think of, but these are a few of the top of my head. If the contractor isn't using shrouds or other noise-blocking devices, that seems like a no-brainer starting point.

This has been going on for a long time, and constant, steady noise like this is particularly tiresome, like Chinese water torture. All construction noise is a necessary nuisance, but long-duration episodes like this should be mitigated as much as possible.

I agree with previous posters, we need to know how long we can expect this to go on - and since it is affecting Arlington residents, Arlington limits should be used.
This type of noise has no place in what is normally a quiet residential area.

Hello,
These are 2 reasonable requests:
1. if noise baffles are available, please install ASAP. Profit should not trump people!
2. since the noise is affecting East Arlington residents, please follow Arlington noise regulations and not start until 8am at the soonest.

- Registered Voter, Arlington Resident

Please contact me at aboyer@cambridgema.gov if further information is needed. Thank you, Andrea