The Ombudsman Marcin Wiącek asked the mayor of Warsaw, Rafał Trzaskowski, how he counteracts street noise. He referred to programs that were supposed to alleviate the problem and wants to know what their implementation is.
The Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights is receiving more and more complaints about noise that Warsaw residents, especially in the city centre, have to deal with on a daily basis. Complainants indicate that the source of noise is primarily increased road traffic, mainly passenger cars and motorcycles.
“This makes it practically impossible to function normally in residential premises with open windows, which makes it difficult, for example, to air the rooms and stay in the apartments on hot days. The noise is also bothersome for people using the city's recreational areas. The media are also drawing attention to the problem,” the Ombudsman writes in a press release.
There were programs
As he points out, he knows that the Warsaw authorities see the importance of the problem and the urgent need to solve it. For example, in the resolution of the Warsaw Council regarding the Environmental Protection Program for the city for 2021-2024, it was indicated that the main source of excessive noise in Warsaw is road traffic.
The specific objectives of the Programme include, among others, “improving the acoustic climate by reducing the impact of traffic noise”.
According to the provisions of the Warsaw Environmental Protection Program against Noise from 2018, the following actions were to play a key role: spatial planning and management taking into account acoustic problems; transport policy, including: construction of bypasses, improvement of traffic flow using the so-called green wave; introduction of traffic restrictions, speed limits, ban on heavy vehicle traffic on selected roads or in selected areas of the city, support and promotion of quiet public transport, including the introduction of priorities for bus and tram transport, introduction of paid parking zones, systematic replacement of public transport fleet with quieter vehicles, including replacement of combustion engine buses with electric buses, and environmental education, including promotion of bicycle transport.
In the short term (until 2023), in terms of road noise, the surface was to be replaced with a quiet one, speed cameras and acoustic screens were to be installed. In the fight against tram noise, the modernization, renovation and reconstruction of tracks were mentioned, along with maintaining their good technical condition through, among others, regular grinding of rails.
Questions from the spokesperson
Marcin Wiącek asks the President of Warsaw for information on the degree of implementation of these activities, especially from a short-term perspective (if they have been achieved). He asks for an indication of whether – and if so, to what extent – this has translated into an improvement in the acoustic climate in Warsaw, including the city centre. He also asks how it was possible to expand the scope of using spatial planning principles and technical solutions in building design – if this has been done.
In addition, the Ombudsman requests information on the schedule for the Environmental Protection Program for 2025-2030 and its assumptions in the context of reducing traffic noise. Although the draft of the new program is still in the consultation phase, it is important whether it is planned to repeat the provisions of the previous one or, in connection with its evaluation, additional solutions are being considered (and if so, what).
The Ombudsman also asks to what extent the amendment to the regulations applicable to the implementation of construction investments will translate into the provisions of the planned programme and whether it will contribute to strengthening the actions of the capital city authorities aimed at improving the acoustic climate of the city or at least stopping its deterioration.
Main image source: Artur Węgrzynowicz/tvnwarszawa.pl