Responding to complaints from nearby residents about screams emanating from its new “Fast & Furious” roller coaster, Universal Studios Hollywood plans to install additional sound barriers in hopes of muffling the noise.
Los Angeles City Councilman Adrin Nazarian broke the news this week on Instagram, writing that the park is working to address concerns of residents in nearby Toluca Lake who have complained about screams of riders trying out the new “Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift” roller coaster.
“… While recent sound testing met the park’s requirements, they will be installing two additional sound barriers to help reduce noise,” Nazarian wrote. “The construction is expected to be completed by early next month.”
He said a community meeting will eventually held by officials from Universal to hear from residents. The councilman urged any residents with continued concerns to call the park’s community hotline at 818-622-2995 or email community.hotline@nbcuni.com.
The much-anticipated coaster has been in a testing phase, initially operating without passengers and without any complaints. But once Universal began allowing actual riders on the coaster, the noise became an issue, with Toluca Lake residents noting the persistent screams of thrill-seekers enjoying the ride.
Park officials noted on a community website that the ride itself was “being meticulously constructed with sound-reduction technology and additional considerations to minimize sound impacts in the community.” Those sound-reduction efforts included a “low-rumble track” filled with pea gravel designed to minimize sound from the cars, along with a series of sound-walls covering more than 900 feet near the track. There are also two “half-pipe shields” built on loops of the track.
The ride is modeled after the popular “Fast & Furious” film franchise and features coaster vehicles designed after those in the movies, with the capability of spinning 360 degrees to simulate the sensation of a car “drifting” during a race.