The Honorable Eissler/Williams/Brady:

Since September 2003, the residents of the Glen Mill subdivision in the village of Grogan's Mill in The Woodlands, Texas (Montgomery County) have complained of traffic noise from I-45 and an anticipated increase in that noise with the completion of the new southbound flyover, which was completed around October, 2004.

An original noise study was conducted and it was determined that the maximum residential level of 66 decibels or higher would be exceeded by the traffic noise from I-45 and from the construction of the flyover.

The feasibility (reduction of noise levels by at least 5 decibels) and reasonableness (not exceeding a cost of $25,000 per benefited receiver -TxDOT's criteria) of the construction of a noise wall was originally studied by TxDOT, but was determined to be infeasible and unreasonable due to the fact that the proposed construction was along the east right-of-way along I-45, in front of commercial businesses from Woodlands Parkway to Rayford Sawdust Road. TxDOT would have had to have built-in too many openings to permit customer traffic into and out of the businesses, thus negating the wall's effectiveness.

A new location was proposed, along the Mud ditch behind the same commercial businesses, and a second noise study was conducted to test the reasonableness and feasibility of a wall at that location. I am attaching that Noise Analysis of Woodlands Parkway Flyover CSTI Project No. 5802 for your perusal. This location is ideal because it is very close to the residences and because no gaps are required for access. The new location will also allow the noise barrier to block traffic noise from all significant roads.

The proposed noise barrier reduces the sound level at the residential locations adjacent to the barrier (the northeast side of Deerfoot Circle) by 5.7 to 10.5 dBA. At three sites, modeled on the other side of Deerfoot Circle, the reduction is 5.1 to 5.4 dBA.

There are at least 56 receivers that would benefit from the construction of the wall.

TxDOT's original estimate at $15.00/sq. ft. came in at around $600,000. During the week of March 22, 2005, TxDOT changed their original estimate to over three times the original proposal, citing reasons such as having to build a bridge to cross the mud ditch to permit access of cement mixers and dump trucks.

As residents of the Glen Mill subdivision, we believe this is an attempt on TxDOT's part to get out of building the wall. We believe their construction costs for various road expansions and improvements in the area have so over-run budget that they have inflated this second estimate, and we believe that they never sent an engineer out to survey the property to allow them to make a reasonable second bid.

We would appreciate your intervention in this matter. Miles McKinney with The Woodlands Communities Service Corporation (WCSC) has been working diligently on this issue, and he is well aware of all of the details and contingencies.

We residents have almost two years of diligent, persistent efforts working with the Woodlands Operating Co., the Woodlands Community Association, MUD Districts 6 and 36, and Montgomery County providing information and making a rational case. We are not only concerned with our property values, but with our quality of life. Many of us cannot enjoy our backyards and even front yards because it is impossible to have a normal conversation due to the noise. Other residents have complained of sleep problems and problems with their children's sleep. Realtors won't show homes for sale in this neighborhood because of the noise. Many local area realtors are anticipating the completion of the wall so that they can glean sales from this neighborhood again.

Thank you for your interest in reading this letter, the attached noise study, and we look forward to your intervention at the state level on our behalf.

Very truly yours,