6. Quality of the Acoustic Environment 6A. Present Situation Please complete the following table providing the most recent data that is available: Indicator Unit Year of data Share of population exposed to total noise values of Lden above 55 dB(A) 68.01 % 2013 Share of population exposed to total noise values of Lden above 65 dB(A); 21.96 % 2013 Share of population exposed to total noise values of Ln (night noise indicator) above 45 dB(A) 75.47 % 2013 Share of population exposed to total noise values of Ln (night noise indicator) above 55 dB(A) 25.32 % 2013 The percentage of citizens living within 300m of quiet areas. 66 % 2013 Describe the present situation in relation to the quality of the acoustic environment, including any relevant disadvantages or constraints resulting from historical, geographical and/or socio-economic factors which may have influenced this indicator area. Where available, information/data should be provided from previous years (5 – 10) to show trends. Additional figures for noise exposure to individual noise sources (road, rail, air, industry, and leisure/entertainment) can also be included. (max. 800 words & 5 graphics, images or tables) The heavy industry that generated noise stopped operating after Estonia regained its independence in 1991, which is why there is no (noise-generating) heavy industry in the classic sense in the administrative territory of Tallinn. Former areas of heavy industry have been mainly turned into business districts. The increase in the number of cars and transit on railways and roads increased until 2008, when the decline and stabilisation caused by the recession arrived. The recession gave Tallinn better levers for diverting activities that cause noise and spoil the quality of ambient air from the city. The storage, handling and manoeuvring of oil products and other container goods at Kopli railway station ended in 2008. Since then, these activities are carried out at the Ülemiste cargo station in the outskirts of the city. The transit of cargo trains though Tallinn, and the transport of goods via ports and the city centre also decreased. Tallinn has mapped the companies that generate significant noise in its territory. In terms of sectors, these eight companies are divided into transport companies (railway, ports, airport, public transport), production companies (mining) and city maintenance companies. There are 15 ports in Tallinn, which operate as cargo, passenger and yachting ports. The total length of railways in Tallinn exceeds 100 km. They connect the cargo ports of Tallinn with the main routes and are used by freight trains. Passenger train traffic within Tallinn takes place on 37.8 km and in three directions. There are four tram lines in Tallinn that cover 36.9 km in total, and two tram depots. Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport is the biggest international airport in Estonia and is located 4 km from the city centre. The airport has one runway that is 3070 metres long with an east-west air corridor. Tallinn Airport does not correspond to the definition of a ‘major airport’ given in Directive 2002/49/EC, pursuant to which a major airport has more than 50,000 movements per year. There are 983 km of streets in Tallinn, which are mostly covered in asphalt. The noise indicators effective in Estonia and Tallinn and their limit values have been stipulated with Minister of Social Affairs Regulation No 42 ‘Standard levels of noise in residential and recreational areas, residential buildings and jointly used buildings, and methods for measuring noise levels’ of 4 March 2002. No separate restrictions have been established in Tallinn. Tallinn has prepared two strategic noise maps, in 2008 and 2012, and two noise reduction action plans in 2009 and 2013. Both the strategic noise map and the noise reduction action plan proceed from European Union Directive 2002/49/EC. The number of people exposed to different sources of noise during the day and night is given on the strategic noise map of Tallinn. The information obtained from noise mapping is used for distributing information about noise and for specific city planning purposes. In Tallinn, the buildings exposed to critical noise levels are multi-storey buildings by city-centre roads and single residential buildings and multi-storey buildings by the main roads that lead out of the city or connect different districts of the city (Table 1). In order to mitigate the noise problems but also to cut energy costs of these buildings, Tallinn created the Fix the facades programme in 2010, which has supported the renovation of the facades of 120 apartment buildings. Table 1. Share of people living in buildings with quiet facades (%) dB Road traffic Railway Industry TOTAL Night noise Lden dB 55 17.65 0.4 0.2 18.25 Night noise Ln dB 45 16.7 0.54 0.69 17.93 The main problem in Tallinn in terms of environmental noise is the large volume of traffic on its main roads (Table 2). This is amplified by the commuting caused by urban sprawl, which leads to additional traffic volume. Noise barriers have been installed by reconstructed main roads in recent years (Figure 1). The noise generated by road traffic affects people the most. The main source of noise by railways is freight trains, especially during the night. The disturbance caused by the activities of train depots can also be considered significant in some regions. Figure 1. Noise barrier on the border of Tallinn Table 2. Share (%) of people exposed to noise caused by road, air and rail traffic and industry in Tallinn Road Railway Industry Air traffic TOTAL traffic 55 64.53 1.43 2.05 0 68.01 Noise Lden dB 65 21.82 0.02 0.12 0 21.96 45 68.23 2.57 4.6 0.07 75.47 Night noise Ln dB 55 24.7 0.24 0.38 0 25.32 Tallinn is tackling the noise situation mainly with planning methods. It is easier to avoid future noise problems when noise and its sources are taken into account at the earliest stages of planning (detailed plan). 6B. Past Performance Describe the measures implemented over the last five to ten years for improving the urban sound quality and increasing awareness to noise. Comment on which measures have been most effective. Make reference to: 1. Classification of territory (if applicable) into appropriate noise classes and with appropriate noise limits (e.g.: specially protected, hospitals/schools, residential, commercial, industrial) including details on enforcement mechanisms if in place; 2. Stakeholder involvement; 3. Communication with citizens; 4. Preservation and improvement of good acoustic urban environments such as quiet areas; 5. Noise reduction measures that influenced the current situation; 6. With respect to the adopted action plans, what is the percentage of the plan effectively implemented (e.g. overall amounts already paid for actions versus overall amounts initially committed). (max. 1000 words & 5 graphics, images or tables) Tallinn is divided into areas of different land use (residential areas, mixed use areas, commercial areas, industrial areas) for which certain noise limits have been established in the regulation of the Minister of Social Affairs (Table 1). The critical value, limit value and guideline value are differentiated in both existing and planned areas. There are four different categories based on the division of land use, where the standard levels of traffic noise and industrial noise have been separately determined. Table 1. Standard levels of traffic noise in areas with and without buildings in Estonia and Tallinn. The noise indicator is the (estimated) equivalent noise level LAeq (dB). In brackets: permitted on the side of noise-sensitive buildings facing the road (railway). Category Period Guideline value Limit Critical value value Planne Existin d g 1. natural recreation areas and Day 50 55 55 65 recreation areas Night of healthcare institutions 40 45 50 60 2. educational institutions, residential Day 55 60 60 (65) 70 areas, recreation areas and parks Night in cities 45 50 55 (60) 65 3. mixed area (residential and jointly Day 60 60 (65) 65 (70) 75 used buildings; trade, service and Night production companies) 50 50 (55) 55 (60) 65 4. industrial area Day 65 70 75 80 Night 55 60 65 70 Tallinn prepared two strategic noise maps in 2008 and 2012, and two noise reduction action plans in 2009 and 2013. The preparation of the noise maps and action plans was public, which gave stakeholders the opportunity to ask questions and make comments. Unfortunately, the results of the noise maps are not comparable, as the calculation methods were changed in 2012. The measures and specific actions for improving the noise situation and maintaining the good noise situation were set in the first Action Plan for Environmental Noise Reduction of Tallinn (2009). As the implementation of the action plan coincided with the recession, only administrative measures, such as preparation and establishment of plans, were used. Measures that were part of complete activities (replacement of windows upon the renovation of public buildings) were also adopted. The share of freight transport on the city’s roads has been optimised and streamlined on the basis of routes and carrying capacity. Tallinn observes compliance with environmental noise requirements in the proceedings of general and detailed plans to guarantee sufficient noise protection for the new noise-sensitive sites are planned. The most effective planning method is the use of commercial and industrial land as noise barriers in front of noise-sensitive areas, such as residential buildings or the buildings of social and educational institutions. For example, in the case of Kristiine district general plan the commercial zone by the main roads is currently under construction that is set to shield residential areas to mitigate the negative impact of noise.