Noise Mitigation Possibilities for Quieter Cities in Europe CAETS 2012 Zürich Tor Kihlman, Chair CAETS Noise Control Technology Committee Chalmers University of Technology Gothenburg, Sweden

Summary The health effects of community noise are severe. International requirements on noise emissions from vehicles are not stringent enough. The technology is available for quieter vehicles. Public transportation systems can provide a quieter environment if the community uses its power as customers and owners of vehicles, roads, and rails. Communities should cooperate in the development of acoustical specifications for public transportation systems.

Effects of environmental noise Transportation noise has severe health effects upon public health. Causes cardio-vascular diseases resulting in hypertension and heart attacks. Recent WHO reports estimate that in Europe noise causes 50,000 premature deaths per year. To reach the WHO guideline values for community noise for all residents is very remote. Technology is available for substantial improvements. For public transportation systems, the communities have responsibility and power to make them quieter.

Public transportation versus private In some respects public transportation systems have less negative environmental impact than private transportation. For environmental noise this is not generally true. If we compare the total noise emitted by different systems for the same total traffic volume (measured in person-km), public transportation may emit more noise than private transportation. The number of passengers vary during the day but the emission per vehicle is almost constant. Therefore, more total noise per transported person may be emitted by public transportation.

Emissions of road vehicles Noise emissions from road vehicles are regulated by international requirements. These requirements are much too liberal to assure healthy environments. The development of quieter road vehicles (exterior noise) is extremely slow. There are few market forces for quieter vehicles. National industrial interests are often hampering noise emission reductions.

Local authorities have power Communities should use their power in the planning of the public transportation system as customers and owners of the vehicles and as owners of the roads and rails. The purchase of vehicles for public transportation is the responsibility of the communities. Local authorities who are responsible for public health should set tougher requirements than the internationally-agreed-to noise limits. This action could speed up the development of vehicles with lower noise emissions. Technology is available for 5-10 dB quieter transit systems and transit vehicles. Demands for quieter vehicles could be technology-driven.

Town planning is important The grid for a public transportation network normally has wider meshes than that for cars. This makes possible wide quiet zones inside the meshes provided the car traffic inside these zones can be kept to a minimum. However, bus lanes may run through such quiet zones to offer good public service. Then it is especially important to demand low-noise buses and to require reduced acceleration noise at the bus stops. Hybrid buses that use an electric motor at start-up are now available; hence, the acceleration noise problem at bus stops can be eliminated.

Rolling noise The tyre/road noise depends on both the tyres and the road surfaces. There is now a noise labeling system for tyres. The quietest available tyres could and should be demanded on buses. Quiet road surfaces should be considered prior to any resurfacing. The acoustical properties of road coverings vary several dB for the same surface. Acoustical specifications need to be set when contracting for roads or road surfaces and the test methods should be agreed upon between purchaser and contractor prior to construction.

Subways, trains, and trams International regulations for noise from rolling stock or rail is lacking. Subways (when they are not underground) often emit more noise than road vehicles for the same transportation volume due to lack of maintenance of the rails and the vehicles. But well-designed and maintained systems may cause less noise than car transportation systems for the same traffic volume. The local authorities must consider noise in the planning stage and in their demands on the rolling stock. These noise emissions are dependent on the rail construction which must be considered.

Conclusions Transportation noise is a severe health factor for the citizens Public transportation is often noisier than private transportation but can be quieter. The local authorities have better means to quiet the public transportation system than private transportation. The authorities should use their power as competent and well-informed customers responsible for the citizens’ health and well-being. This should be done with cooperation between local authorities in organizations such as Eurocities.

Conclusions, cont’d Methods to specify the demands on the components—road surfaces, rails, roads, and vehicles—are not readily available but need to be developed. Possible short- and long-term goals also need to be set within technology possibilities. Test methods and specifications for buses, roads, rail, trains, and trams should be formulated in detail.

Conclusions, cont’d The technology to develop low-noise yet highly- efficient intermodal public transportation systems is either available now or could be realized in the next five to ten years by manufacturers. The incentives to demand this technology must be strengthened so that the conflict of objectives between establishing high-performance traffic systems and preserving low-noise urban neighborhoods can be resolved. There are links between climate and noise.

Role of the Noise Control Technology Committee The NCTC seeks to improve the quality of life and public health by promoting the reduction of the noise emitted by the principal noise sources in the community environment. This is to be accomplished by disseminating relevant information to decision-makers, manufacturers, consumers, and the public. NCTC seeks to assist the world’s policymakers by giving independent information about the technological options and the barriers to their adoption in order to counterbalance the lobbying from industry. Well-informed policymakers are needed who can challenge the industry, set up stringent limits and find market-driving tools.

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