Traffic & Transit

State Senate Considers Sound Barriers For Braintree MBTA Station

The bill intends to address the noise caused by Red Line trains in Braintree and Quincy neighborhoods.

State Sen. John Keenan (D-Quincy), proposed S.2343​, proposes studying building sound barriers from the Braintree MBTA station to the Neponset River Bridge.
State Sen. John Keenan (D-Quincy), proposed S.2343​, proposes studying building sound barriers from the Braintree MBTA station to the Neponset River Bridge. (Dan Libon/Patch)

BRAINTREE, MA — Braintree and Quincy could see sound barriers built along parts of the MBTA's Red Line if a bill currently in the Massachusetts State Senate becomes law.

State Sen. John Keenan (D-Quincy), proposed S.2343, proposes studying building sound barriers from the Braintree MBTA station to the Neponset River Bridge. If passed, the state will hire an acoustical engineer to measure ambient noise levels along the Red Line extension.

If noise levels generated by trains exceed the ambient level by 10 or more decibels, the MBTA would have to install sound barriers to alleviate the problem. Barriers would then be reviewed by the MBTA and Quincy and Braintree health departments after a public hearing process.

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The bill was approved in the Committee on Transportation on Monday and will move on to the committee on Senate Ways and Means.

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