Evaluation and analysis of traffic noise level in Kaunas city

Environmental noise management is an important part of the policy across the European Union policy context, because transportation and industrial noise is a significant local environmental problem for most of the urban population. Increasing number of vehicles is associated with growing noise level from road transport in urban areas and rising public health problems. Motor transport is considered to be a main source of noise pollution, so it is important to investigate the level of traffic noise and to assess the relationship with traffic flows. The aim of this study was to identify and evaluate noise level from road traffic and to compare noise level near the streets with quiet areas such as parks in Kaunas city. The measurements of traffic flow intensity and noise level were conducted in 40 selected sites near the main streets and in 9 parks in Kaunas city in 2013. In order to measure the noise level, sound level meter, which complies with the latest international standard was used. The study results showed that the highest noise level was measured in near streets with high traffic flow 71.0 dB(A). The noise level was 12.3% and 4.9% lower in measurement sites near low and medium traffic flow than in sites near high traffic flow intensity, respectively. Correlation coefficient between measured traffic flow intensity and noise level was significantly strong (r = 0.7344; p < 0.001). The average equivalent noise level in 9 Kaunas city parks ranged from 37.8 dB(A) to 53.6 dB(A). The average noise level in street and park measurement sites was 68.2 dB(A) and 47.3 dB(A), respectively.