Noise insulation to come to Winthrop

By Aaron Toffler

Winthrop is no stranger to airport noise. For decades, residents of this town close to Logan International Airport have endured overflights that shake their windows and rattle their doors. Many of the affected homes, located under runway flight paths, have previously been insulated against noise under an FAA program of residential sound insulation. The program, managed by Massport with funding from the FAA, has treated over 11,000 homes since the inception of the Massachusetts program in 1985.

Many of these homes, however, were treated in the early stages of the program, when sound insulation technology was not as advanced as it is today. Homes treated with that early technology thirty-plus years ago continue to experience disruptive airport noise. Further, the homes that had been treated in the first generation of the program (between 1984 and 1993) had, until recently, been ineligible to be re-insulated under FAA policy. However, because of advocacy by the Massachusetts Port Authority and the Massport Community Advisory Committee (MCAC), these homes will now be eligible to be re-insulated with newer technologies.

“We are thrilled that Massport has joined with us to formally request that the FAA reexamine their policy against re-soundproofing homes. In Winthrop, many of the residences in the Point Shirley neighborhood will now be eligible to participate in the program and, hopefully, receive some relief from the noise,” said Jerry Falbo, Vice Chair of the MCAC. The formal request from Lisa Wieland, CEO of the Massachusetts Port Authority, was submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration in January of 2020 and targets “a narrow set of eligible homes with the highest noise exposure and whose owners have not been able to update their structures to take advantage of the vast improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of window and door treatments.” Winthrop residents will be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the change in policy.

The Massachusetts Community Advisory Committee is a legislatively created body made up of representatives from the thirty-five communities impacted by Massport’s operations. The MCAC oversees and provides recommendations to Massport to minimize operational impacts on the member communities.

Hannah Belcher, Winthrop Town Councilor representing Precinct 3, said, “my constituents look forward to working with the MCAC and Massport to make this long-awaited program a success. The residents of Winthrop will benefit from having newer, more effective sound insulation in their homes. We will work with Massport to ensure that all eligible homes are evaluated and re-insulated in an expeditious manner.”