Sustainable road acoustic environment and economic recession

Abstract

The economic crisis in Greece, resulted a dramatic reduction in GDP, over 25% during last 5 years, and also a significant increase of unemployment which reached the rate of 28% in 2014. As a result a significant reduction in traffic volumes, vehicle-kilometers travelled and changes in driving behaviour, mainly in speed, are recorded. This paper presents the effect of traffic characteristics changes in environmental traffic noise. Traffic and speed data as well as noise measurements are compared in a before-after analysis. The results show differences in Lden and Light indicators and interesting changes in peak-hours and night hours values, as well. More specifically, there is an overall reduction of total traffic noise level. The measurements over the limits of Lden (>70 dB (A) and Lnight (>60dB (A)) are less, comparing with periods before crisis. On the other hand, traffic reduction resulted and increase of average speed in peak-hours when congestions last less hours. In some of these cases noise measurements have higher values than before. This analysis conclude that in current conditions environmental effects of road infrastructures have decreased but the necessary protection measures must be considered and implemented, preventing the difficulties which road operators will face again when, in the near future, the recession will end.