Sound & traffic surveys OBG I There's away
September 8,2017
Mr.Eric Gilbert,President
The Great Escape and Splashwater Kingdom
P0.Box 511
Lake George,NY 12804
RE: Annual Community Sound Survey—2017
The Great Escape and Splashwater Kingdom
FILE: 14257/66402
Dear Mr.Gilbert:
O'Brien&Gere is pleased to provide this report of the 2017 community sound level survey for The Great Escape
and Splashwater Kingdom(Park)in Queensbury,New York.The purpose of the survey is to provide annual
sound monitoring as required in the Park's 2001 approval for expansion.Survey methodology and results are
presented below.
METHODOLOGY
The methodology was consistent with sound surveys conducted for the Park for the past several seasons.A-
weighted and octave band sound level measurements were conducted at four locations surrounding the Park.
The locations are presented in Figure 1 and identified below:
• Courthouse Estates(ML-N),
• Twicwood Estates (ML-S),
• Glen Lake Shore near the driveway entrance to 86 Ash Drive(ML-AD),and
Great Escape West—Park parking lot west of Route 9 and south of Martha's(ML-PL).
Three of the monitoring sites were located in the community surrounding the Park.ML-N was located on the
corner of Hawthorne Road and Northwood Drive,and characterizes private residences in the Courthouse
Estates community north of the Park.ML-S was located on a cul-de-sac at the end of Greenwood Lane,and
characterizes private residences in the Twicwood community south of the Park.ML-AD was located next to the
driveway entrance to a private residence adjacent to the southwest shore of Glen Lake,and characterizes
residences along the shoreline of Glen Lake.Please note that ML-AQ was relocated approximately 230 feet
northwest of the ML-AD monitoring location used through 2011 since the property owners no longer allow
access to their property.The fourth site,ML-PL,was located in a Great Escape parking lot between Route 9 and
Interstate 87(I-87),southwest of the Park,and characterizes sound levels along Route 9 west of the Park.
333 West Washington Street,PO Box 4873 p 315-956-6100 OBG
Syracuse,NY 13221-4873 f 315-463-7554 www.obg.com
At each of the four monitoring locations,sound levels were measured during the following three scenarios: 1)
Park operating,weekday(August 11); 2) Park closed(August 12,morning);and 3) Park operating,weekend
(August 12).For each scenario,sound levels were measured for a 20-minute period using a portable Type I
sound level meter(analyzer)with integral 1/3 octave band filter.The analyzer measured A-weighted and 1/3
octave band sound levels at a rate of 32 samples per second,and automatically stored time-averaged data into
memory.During each measurement period,notes were made onto field forms documenting weather conditions,
intrusive noise sources,and traffic,as applicable.All measurements were conducted while winds were calm to
light(<5 mph)and there was no rain.
RESULTS
Results of the sound survey are presented in Table 1 and field observations are summarized in Table 2.Field
data forms are in Attachment 1,and copies of calibration certificates are in Attachment 2.As indicated in Table
1,near-continuous(background)sound levels (L9o)at the three community monitoring locations ranged from
40 to 46 dBA while the Park was open and from 40 to 45 dBA while the Park was closed.Energy-average sound
levels (Lej at the community monitoring locations ranged from 45 to 55 dBA during the day when the Park was
open,and from 45 to 50 dBA when the Park was closed.
Notes on Park sound that was audible during measurements when the Park was open indicate the following:
Courthouse Estates-The Park was audible(coaster sounds)at times during both the weekday measurement
and weekend measurement at a maximum of 1 to 2 dBA above the average background sound level.
Twicwood Estates-The Park was not audible during either weekday or weekend measurements
Glen Lake-The Park was audible(ride sounds)at times during the weekday measurement and weekend
measurement at a maximum of 1 to 4 dBA above the average background sound level.
A tabulated comparison of 2017 background sound levels with 2015 and 2016 results is presented in Table A.
Table A.Background Sound Level Summary-2013 to 2017
Sound Background Sound Level(L90 in dBA)
Measurement —Park Open Park Closed
Location(ID) Weekday Weekend Weekend'
2015 2016 2017 2015 2016 2017 2015 2016 2017
Courthouse Estates (ML-N) 41 49 42 43 44 46 49 55 45
Twicwood (ML-5) 40 46 42 41 41 44 43 46 43
111—
Glen Lake (ML-AD) 37 43 40 38 39 41 45 53 40
Community Average 39 46 -- 41 41 41 44 46 51 43
Great Escape West(ML-PL) 52 53 51 52 51 52 46 52 49
a Sound levels measured on a Friday evening after the Park closed in 2015 and 2016,and on a Saturday morning before the Park opened in 2017.
Overall,2017 background community sound levels during Park operation were within the range of sound levels
measured from 2015 to 2016.When the Park was closed,average background sound levels in 2017 for the three
community monitoring locations were 3 to 8 dBA below the average levels measured in 2015 and 2016,which is
due in part to less insect noise during 2017 morning measurements as compared with the evening
measurements in 2015 and 2016.
At ML-PL,background and energy-average sound levels were higher than at the community monitoring
locations due to the location's closer proximity to the Park,Route 9,and Interstate.Compared with
measurements from last two years,the 2017 background sound levels at ML-PL were within same the range as
the sound levels measured at ML-PL from 2015 to 2016.
OBG THERE'S A WAY 'Cc' 2017. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1 2
September 8,2017 I:\Great-Escape.14257\66402.Greatescape-
Sou\Docs\Reports\14257_66402_summary report.docx
We appreciate the opportunity to provide you these services.If you have any questions regarding this report,
please contact Scott Manchester at(315) 956-6410 or at
Very truly yours,
O'BRIEN&GERE ENGINEERS,INC.
G Scott C.Manchester
Project Manager
Attachments: Table 1 -Sound Level Measurement Results
Table 2 -Sound Survey Observations Summary
Figure 1-Community Sound Survey Locations
Attachment 1 -Field Data Forms
Attachment 2-Calibration Certificates
OBG I THERE'S A WAY O 2017. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
September 8,2017 I:\Great-Escape.14257\66402.Greatescape-
Sou\Docs\Reports\14257_66402_summary report.docx `
I
1
s
OBG r0i
THERE'S A WAY
w
In It (D LO I` Ln (D (D Ln � (D m
N N N N N N N N N N N N 2
ti
Ln co co O r I- (D (D d' Ln O I-
s N N N N M N N N N co co M a
u'
a
co co co N
a
�P, M co O M (D d' (D 00 x
N M M M dt M M M d• Nt a
�xr
O co co d' co co O It
M CO CO CO CO CO M
• ``fes 00 O O W O M (D (O In I-
,' M co M M M Nt M M M d' d'
asr r (D N
dam' d0' "t V 4 4 (n - Ln
'It d' d' d' d' 'It d• It Ln Ln Ln
a
I- O Ln Ln (D d' O O (n O Ln
Ln d• It It It Nt dt d• d• Ln Ln Ln"
in O CO In Ln (D M co (D It N Ln0
Ln U') In d' It 'tNt d' d' U') In Lo
..........^ si r
a. R Q
3 • O r N d' O d' 00 M Ln d' N Ln 1 0 _
y� I- O (D Ln Ln LO w O co (D (D (D m
v in
M r W O7 W N w N Ln M Lo r
L1') Ln It d' Ln (D (D Ln Ln Ln
_ � o
O w M O I\ (D I� 00 0
fp Ln Ln d• d' In o
L
m I- O d' d' (D N N d' COLn
�y '.
U N Ln N v Nt � v Nt Ln Ln LO A mo
v1 M ++ ON
N Ln (D N M ;t O O M N T
fC G1 i 3 d 't It v Nt a Ln v Ln
CD co S Q dM' d' V M M
in
OO d' co O O N M m
J 0 0 0 0 LO 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 CD
O co
LP co M O M O M 00 O C? 00 M .2 N O
N 06 N ^ N M N M 66 N N — C 8
Q O Q Q Q
a1 a1 a1 o N
7 7 D n Cl)
Q Q Q Q Q Q Q O N 41 C
= N N N N N N N &
J ,�.., N 'j
O E 'D
m o 3 N
co � of _C c0 c co a «- C ti N
`s Y C Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N C -p
?� > C
n > > CC > > n > > CC L C to
E E E E
0) CD 101 (M L0) v O1
C U O
C C C C C C C C O p 0 E
a1 mm Lv N 5 m 0) � a1 Cl) S E E Leo Ii
OL U a - U Q a U a aU Q > > I
O O O O O O O � O a E -o .E 0)
Y. C =O m C
Q- a- tL CL (n W
CL a- tL Cl. 0- 11 CL d o
a }
c m aCL
ui
N -d C _ Q _ _ "o E J E J 3
_ N J
p ( Z O N (n N N � VUi v1J _ v J �n
J Q _ 0
• N —L .0 N J C L J w J
=3 W W _ 4
a1
U
y Z o
Table 2. Sound Survey Observations Summary
Sound Sources Sound Sources3 ehicle Traffic Park Sound
Vehicle traffic: Glen Lake Rd.: Park ride sound faintly audible
Courthouse Estates Glen Lake Rd.traffic; 5 per minute during some lulls in Glen Lake
Glen Lake Rd.:25-29 dBA Rd.traffic
(ML-N) Distant traffic to west. Northwood Dr.: no observable
Northwood Drive.:3-29 dBA 2 in 20 minutes increase in sound level)
Twicwood Estates Distant traffic to southwest; Greenwood Ln.:
Distant traffic:up to 6 dBA Park sound not audible.
(ML-S) Birds None
— __�- _ .._...._......--
Watercraft(jet ski):2-3 dBA
Glen Lake Shore Traffic to south and west; Voices on lake:2 dBA Ash Drive: Park sound audible at times
(ML-AD) Birds/crickets Ash Drive traffic:up to 25 dBA 3 in 20 minutes (coaster/ride)
Park ride sounds:2-4 dBA
Route 9 Traffic:4-6 dBA Park sound:Greezed Lightnin
Great Escape West Route 9 and 1-87 traffic; Route 9: coaster and rider cheers;
Park ride sounds:5-7 dBA 4uatch:air release;Park
(ML-PL) Park sound(intermittent) 14 per minute Sas
Park music:1 dBA music
� II
Glen Lake Rd.:
Courthouse Estates Distant traffic to west; Vehicle traffic: 2 per minute
(ML-N) Route 9 at times
Glen Lake Rd.:12-14 dBA Northwood Dr.: None–Park closed
Northwood Drive.:11-15 dBA
3 in 20 minutes
Twicwood Estates Traffic to south-southwest; Distant traffic:4 dBA Greenwood Ln.: None–Park closed
(ML-5) Birds and leavesBird:5 dBA None
Glen Lake Shore Distant traffic to southwest; Ash Drive traffic 25-28 dB Ash Drive: None–Park closed
(ML-AD) Birds Bird:5 dBA 4 in 20 minutes
Great Escape West I-87 traffic; Route 9 traffic:4-13 dBA Route 9:
Route 9 traffic; None–Park closed
(ML-PL) Leaves:1-2 dBA 8 per minute
Leaves and birds at times
Vehicle traffic:
Northwood Dr.:12-15 dBA Glen Lake Rd.:
Courthouse Estates Birds; Glen Lake Rd.:7-12 dBA 6 per minute Park coaster sound audible
during lulls in Glenn Lake Rd.
(ML-N) Glen Lake Rd.traffic Birds:4-7 dBA Northwood Dr.: traffic
Voices to north:5 dBA 2 in 20 minutes
Coaster Sound:1-2 dBA
Twicwood Estates Traffic to south-southwest; Local traffic:6-9 dBA Greenwood Ln.:
(ML-S) Birds and leaves
Vacuum cleaner at residence to 2 in 20 minutes Park sound not audible.
south:3 dBA(11t 4 minutes)
Local traffic:5-24 dBA
Glen Lake Shore Traffic to west; Coaster sound 1-2 dBA Ash Drive: Park sound audible at times
(ML-AD) Birds and leaves Construction banging at residence 1 in 20 minutes (coaster)
(south of 86 Ash Dr.:>21 dBA
Route 9 traffic; Park sound Greezed Lightnin
Great Escape West Route 9: and coaster to its south;rider
Park sound(intermittent) Park ride sounds: 5-7 dBA
(ML-PL) 17 per minute cheers,coaster sound,and air
1-87 traffic release
a Sound levels represent decibels above the average background sound level for the period(L.)
I:\Great-Escape.14257\66402.Greatescape-Sou\Docs\Reports\Table 2.Do
OBG I THERE'S A WAY rIj
PAGE 1
i
OBG GO
THERE'S A WAY
a
h`
r
d
N
N
O
.-1
O
H
Q
0
# #
6
z
0
k
ui
0
L
o
m
� r
o
w v
0
0
N
S].
d
N r
a a
3
� a
N
N
N �
Q W
N
h
W
� R1
O
PCL XL Error
Subsystem : I / O
Error : I n p u t R e a d E r r o r
Operator : E n d P a g e
Position : 33135
ENGINEERS Creigton
PLANNERS August 29, 2017
SURVEYORS 4W Manning
Mr. Eric Gilbert
The Great Escape
P.O. Box 511
Lake George Road
Lake George, NY 12845
RE: 2017 Biennial Traffic Counts, US Route 9,Town of Queensbury,The
Great Escape GEIS, CM Project No. 112-158
Dear Mr. Gilbert:
The Findings Statement for the Great Escape Generic Environmental Impact
Statement (GEIS) included a traffic monitoring plan, which was modified to every
two years in 2016, the last report being in 2015. The traffic monitoring plan requires
that traffic counts be collected during the morning peak hours of the generator
on a typical Tuesday and Saturday in August at the following intersections:
• US Route 9/1-87 Exit 20 Northbound Ramps
• US Route 9/Gurney Lane (County Road 23)
Creighton Manning (CM) conducted intersection turning movement counts on
Saturday, August 12, 2015, and Tuesday, August 1, 2017, from 9:30 a.m.to
11:30 a.m. at the above intersections. The peak hour counts are shown on
Figure 1. The GEIS indicates that the Great Escape is responsible for conducting
annual traffic counts to determine if the implementation of phased traffic
improvements is warranted based on traffic volume thresholds. Phase 3
improvements are required when the combined volume of traffic in the
southbound through lane and the eastbound right-turn lane at either of the
above intersections reaches the traffic threshold listed in the GEIS Findings
Statement. A comparison between existing 2017 traffic volumes and Phase 3
volume thresholds is provided in the following table.
Comparison of Traffic Counts and GEIS Thresholds
During the August Peak Hour of the Great Escape
Tuesday Entering Peak Hour Saturday Entering Peak Hour
Intersection Phase 3 Existing 2017 Phase 3 Existing 2017
Threshold Volumes Threshold Volumes
US Rt.9/1-87 Exit 20 1,320 825 1,454 757
NB Ramps
US Rt.9/Gurney Ln 1,368 790 1,404 872
2 Winners Circ e,
Albany,Nv 1220,
518.446.0396 (Pf
513.446.0397 I'i
w,,v,v.cmellp.com
Mr.Eric Gilbert
August 29,2017
Page 2 of 2
The combined existing traffic volumes in the southbound through lane and the
eastbound right-turn lane at the two subject intersections do not meet Phase 3
volume thresholds during the weekday and Saturday peak hours of the
generator. This analysis indicates that the Great Escape is not currently
required to implement Phase 3 traffic improvements as stated in the GEIS.
Please call if you have any questions regarding the traffic count data.
Respectfully submitted,
Creighton Manning Engineering, LLP
A� -/"' '
Kenneth Wersted, P.E., PTOE
Associate
Attachments
Cc: Charles Dumas, Lemery Greisler, LLC
Kevin Franke, The LA Group
Ron Montesi—Town of Queensbury
X:\Old Projects\2012\112-158 GE Annual Traffic Mon ito ring\docu ments\traffic monitor 2017.docx
9 9
m
EXIT 20 EXIT 20
NB RAMP 298 sI, t NB RAMP 388--t * T
212 Nm 163--, cno
rM r�
m
� H
O O
w Of
33 WARREN CO. 2m 15 WARREN CO.
calx--rm 21 MUNICIPAL au�ico f-6 MUNICIPAL
J21GURNEY LN ,j ,x--47 CENTER 23 GURNEY LN 1 + 3 CENTER
10 202 t I
303-, m a 3392 a
WEEKDAY PEAK HOUR SATURDAY PEAK HOUR
2017 PEAK HOUR ` rei0ton
TRAFFIC VOLUMES . ,
THE GREAT ESCAPE EXPANSION , G1nnInC
WARREN COUNTY, NEW YORK
PROJECT: 112-158 DATE: 6/17 aFIGURE: 1