Rock City leaders say new sound data indicates the proposed gondola project on Lookout Mountain would operate at noise levels comparable to a quiet neighborhood, as the company continues responding to concerns from nearby residents.
Noise and increased traffic have been among the concerns raised by residents as Rock City pursues plans for the gondola project.
According to Rock City, the proposed gondola would be manufactured by Doppelmayr Group, which the attraction describes as the world’s largest manufacturer of monocable detachable gondola ropeway systems.
Rock City says modern gondola systems are considerably quieter than older aerial tram systems, with heavy drive machinery and electric motors isolated inside localized stations. As gondola cabins pass support towers, officials say the resulting sound is brief and relatively minor.
As part of its latest update, Rock City provided information from sound testing conducted on a similar Doppelmayr gondola system in Austria.
The Austrian system uses what Rock City described as an open-air R1 roof. The proposed Lookout Mountain system would instead include a building envelope enclosing the system, which Rock City says would provide additional sound dampening.
The closest residence to the proposed Rock City system is approximately 280 feet, or 85 meters, away.
Using Doppelmayr’s sound measurements from the Austrian gondola, Rock City projects noise from the Lookout Mountain system would measure approximately 38.8 decibels at the nearest residence.
Rock City says that would put the gondola’s projected sound level in a range comparable to a quiet neighborhood and below the noise produced by many common household appliances.
As reference points, Rock City said ambient noise in a quiet neighborhood or natural mountain setting generally ranges from about 30 to 35 decibels, while normal conversation or office chatter can measure between 60 and 65 decibels.
The company also cited information from Brown University Library that lists a whisper at approximately 30 decibels, a quiet office, computer hum or light rain at about 40 decibels, and light traffic at about 50 decibels.
The additional information comes as Rock City works through the local approval process for its proposed gondola. The Lookout Mountain Planning Commission previously indicated it wanted additional information about the project while considering Rock City’s request for a text amendment to the town’s existing ordinance.
Rock City says more than 1,250 gondola lifts are currently operating around the world and maintains that the transportation systems can operate efficiently and quietly.
“When the Lookout Mountain Planning Commission considered our request for a text amendment to the existing ordinance, they noted that they needed more information about the project,” Rock City leaders said.
“We continue toward that effort with this noise data, and we remain committed to ongoing dialogue with the community that has been our home for the last nine decades.”
Rock City leaders added that they remain committed to hearing from neighboring residents as discussions about the proposed project continue.
“Being good stewards of the legacy we’ve inherited is what drives our decisions,” Rock City leaders said. “Hearing from our neighbors throughout this process is encouraging as so many share our passion for the place we all call home.”