It is known that buses engine noise is relatively higher when compared to light vehicles engines. It is also well known, by transportation and urban planners, that the number of private cars running in urban areas is significantly higher than trucks and buses. Thus, the contribution to noise levels on urban areas (streets and avenues) due to the traffic volume of private cars operation is generally higher. In this context, one of the possible strategies to urban planners and transportation engineers, regarding noise reduction in urban areas, is the management of the passengers transport modal split. Those strategies have the potential to reduce the total number of vehicles in operation and consequently, reduce environmental impacts such as traffic noise. The main objective of this paper is to evaluate, based on the use of available noise prediction macroscopic models, the relationship of managing modal split in urban areas and traffic noise. In addition, a sensitivity analysis to assess different modal split alternatives is conducted in two specific cases: (I) assuming a modal split where 50% of the buses in operation is formed by electric vehicles and (II) assuming that 100% of buses running are electric. The results show that while individually, buses are a more powerful noise source compared to private cars, modal split where public transport is privileged can produce better results, contributing positively to noise levels reduction in urban areas.
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