9 Investigates money spent to study SunRail noise with no fix

SANFORD, Fla. — A group of Sanford residents has filed a lawsuit against the Florida Department of Transportation, claiming that noise from a SunRail maintenance yard is affecting their quality of life and the value of their homes.

Channel 9's investigative reporter Karla Ray has been following the fight at the Preserve at Lake Monroe for two years. FDOT has performed several noise abatement studies in the neighborhood, including looking into a noise wall, but no decision has been made to fix the problem.

Two homeowners in the neighborhood received noise-reducing windows and doors during an $11,000 pilot test.

Angel Wasef said the windows have helped reduce the rumbling from overnight maintenance.

“At least I can sleep a little bit,” Wasef told Eyewitness News.

Records obtained by 9 Investigates show that studies, including some just completed this summer of 2016, have cost nearly $160,000.

“I really couldn't tell you what they're continuing to study except that they need to move it,” Sanford Mayor Jeff Triplett said.

Triplett made that request a year ago. Since then, a study completed by FDOT found that moving the yard would be the most effective option to reduce noise for residents. However, the new location would create noise impacts to some portions of the Central Florida Zoo. Moving the yard, which would cost $10 million, is also the most expensive option.

“If you're going to spend money at that level, do it, take it into an industrial area where there's not residences right around it. Do what's right for the people who pay your bills,” Triplett said.

A noise wall would cost less than $3 million, but would only reduce noise for only some residents.

In the lawsuit, neighbors cited “anxiety, extreme annoyance, anger and fear for their health.”

Wasef didn’t participate in the lawsuit, and said he isn’t holding his breath for any changes to come from it.

“It's hard to trust them,” Wasef said of FDOT.

FDOT has filed a motion to throw out the lawsuit. A spokesperson told Eyewitness News that the agency is still evaluating options to alleviate the noise.

Cox Media Group