The Mayor's Ambient Noise Strategy - Greater London Authority

40 Mayor of London
The Mayor’s Ambient Noise Strategy
reducing traffic and improving public transport should reduce noise. The
Mayor’s other Strategies provide opportunities to take action, and to
promote measures to reduce ambient noise in London. The following
sections assess their impact on noise.
Transport Strategy
3.32 Links between the Mayor’s Ambient Noise and Transport Strategies are
extensive. The state of transport in London, with economic growth but
continued under-investment, hinders business efficiency and quality of
life. Resolving this is the Mayor’s highest priority. The only viable
approach, from both a financial and an environmental point of view, is for
public transport to serve the vast majority of passenger traffic in Central
London and for the majority of additional transport capacity to be
accommodated through public transport. The Mayor’s Transport Strategy,
published in July 2001, seeks to address the needs of London as a world
city, requiring excellent internal and international transport facilities,
whilst minimising environmental impact on residents. However, many key
decisions on international transport and related environmental issues are
matters for central government.
3.33 Road traffic is the most widespread source of ambient noise in London.
Many aspects of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy will lead to a quieter
London. If more people walk, cycle or use a modernised, well-maintained,
well-run public transport system, noise environments should improve. The
Mayor’s Transport Strategy will have many different implications for
ambient noise. It will be important to maximise the potential noise
benefits from improved and more efficient systems, and minimise adverse
impacts. Detailed policies and proposals are set out in Chapters 4A-D of
this Strategy.
3.34 The Mayor’s Transport Strategy (Policy 3.10) states that, where possible,
Transport for London will lead by example by adopting and promoting
cost-effective environmental good practice, particularly where this will
contribute to minimising the noise impacts of transport. The Strategy
envisages (paragraph 3.75, and proposal 3.4) that, with additional
resources for integrated transport investment becoming available over
time, it will be possible to place greater focus on targeting noise reduction
in the design and maintenance of transport infrastructure and vehicles.