IMPACTOS DA REESTRUTURAÇÃO VIÁRIA NO CENTRO DO RIO DE JANEIRO SOBRE AS CONDIÇÕES DE RUÍDO URBANO:

AVALIANDO UM LEGADO DO PROJETO PORTO MARAVILHA

Abstract

This paper evaluates the impacts on the urban noise conditions resulting from the traffic system interventions in downtown Rio de Janeiro, as part of the Porto Maravilha Urban Operation. The study area includes Rio Branco Avenue surrounding blocks, where some traffic lanes have been replaced by Light Rail Vehicle (LRV). Sound Pressure Level measurements were performed before (2014) and after (2016) intervention in order to produce noise maps, sections and conflict maps, by means of numerical simulations in SoundPlan. Results show that the benefits from intervention were only perceived in Rio Branco Avenue, where there was a reduction of 3 and 1% of the LAeq and L90, respectively. The gains in Rio Branco Avenue do not compensate the losses observed in the other streets, where there was an increase of up to 10% in LAeq and 13% in L90. The intervention practically eliminated the few areas that met the sound levels indicated by NBR 10151/2000 for financial and commercial districts. The traffic has become more intense on some roads mainly due to the redistribution of flows. This finding reinforces the importance of combining investments on public transportation with policies to discourage or even prohibit the circulation of private vehicles in some areas of downtown Rio de Janeiro.