DESIGN OF ATHENS' TRAM AND URBAN BUS DEPOTS SURROUNDING AREAS BASED ON NOISE LEVELS MONITORING

The current study monitored traffic noise levels at the areas around Athens’ Tram and Urban Bus Depots which are installed close to the former International Athens’ Airport. The aim of the study was to determine the source and the levels of noise pollution at the residential area in the vicinity of the depots. Recorded A-weight sound pressure level (L₁₀) was over the permissible limits of 70 dB(A) for open spaces, while noise pollution originated mainly from the buses moving towards and from their depot. Based to the monitored noise levels a new routing for the passage of the bus line was proposed. In addition, an urban park was designed around the depots which incorporated various noise abatement methods such as the use of sound barriers, earth berms and sound masking techniques in order to reduce noise pollution in the residential area.