Appendix B - Case Studies
Case Study 1 - Modal Shift background
During 2019 to 2024 a wide range of Transport Policies with the ability to influence Transport Noise were developed and implemented. These are summarised in Image 1. Key background related to the modal shift to facilitate noise management, as noted in Action 3a, of the TNAP 2029 to 2023, are as follows.
- In 2023-24, public transport journeys rose by 15%, with 451 million public transport journeys made by either bus, rail, air, or ferry. This compares with the 392 million public transport journeys recorded in 2022-23.
- The number of bus journeys increased by 12% in 2023-24 compared to 2022-23. However, this was still 7% lower than pre-pandemic journeys in 2019-20.
- Rail journeys showed an increase of 27% over the year 2023-24. However, this was still 16% lower than in 2019-20. In the years immediately prior to the pandemic rail use had been steadily increasing.
- Air passengers increased by 21% between 2022 and 2023, but are still down by around 10% compared with 2019. Air passenger numbers had increased by 28% in the ten years prior to the pandemic. Ferry passenger numbers showed an increase of 4% in 2023, but were still down 7% compared to 2019. Road traffic also rose in 2023-24. Overall road traffic increased by 2%, and has now returned to 99% of pre-pandemic levels. Car traffic increased by 3% in 2023-24 and is now 4% below pre-pandemic levels. Prior to the pandemic, road traffic had been following a steadily increasing trend with total road traffic increasing by 10% in the 10 years up to 2019.
- During the pandemic cycling was one of the few transport types to demonstrate an increase in traffic volume. Despite decreases in the years since, cycling on the road network was estimated to be 10% higher in 2023-24 compared with 2019-20.
Case Study 2 - Pathway Intervention of Noise Barriers
During 2019 to 2024 a series of pilot noise barrier locations were identified, and a detailed consultation, design, and construction was completed. The findings of this work is currently under review to evaluate future interventions linked to wider policy alignment and a Soundscape based approach. The noise barriers completed to date are listed on Table 16 below.
| Route | Scheme |
|---|---|
| A92 | Newport on Tay |
| M9 | Polmont |
| M9 | Stirling |
| M80 | Castlecary |
| M876 | Bonnybridge |
Details of before and after assessment of pilot noise barriers. Include before and after monitoring results, cost, benefit, suggestion for future barrier appraisal, and types to explore. A typical example is shown in the image below.
Case Study 3 - Source intervention, quieter surface, and monitoring
Transport Scotland consider the use of quieter road surfacing material when designing routine maintenance schemes in CNMA locations, and apply these where appropriate.
Opportunities for noise management interventions are considered as part of handling noise complaints, and examples include reviewing the maintenance regime, appraising traffic flows, and assessing any long-term planning opportunities. This approach is supported by the development of a noise complaints handling flowchart.
Noise management has been appraised in detail on major schemes including the A720 Sheriffhall, the A9, and the M8, M73, M74 DBFO.
We have developed an innovative before and after monitoring test to evaluate the benefits of different types of quieter surface and we are using the results to improve material choice. We also instructed Atkins Limited to review the noise reduction performance of TS2010, a type of Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA) road surface. A literature review was undertaken of relevant research and the TS2010 noise performance test report. Example cost benefit case studies have been modelled and the content of the following report summarises the findings. The work is summarised in the TS2010 Noise Reduction Performance Review - Initial Assessment | Transport Scotland