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Appendix 4 - Action Plan Core Elements and Supporting Measures
Core Elements
The Core Elements of the Action Plan are as follows.
1 Assessment of Candidate Noise Management Areas ( CNMA) and Identification of Noise Management Areas ( NMA).
2 Develop Cost Benefit Analysis Tools.
3 Application of Cost Benefit Analysis tools and evaluation of potential mitigation measures.
Supporting Measures
In addition to the Core Elements noted above and as described earlier in Section 4.6 of this document, a range of supporting measures would help ensure that the Core Elements are delivered in a broad cross cutting manner which aligns with planned investments on the transport networks and which takes account of innovation in noise assessment and planning.
An important aspect of delivering the Transportation Noise Action Plan will involve education and sharing of knowledge across the various organisations and professions involved in the process. This could include sharing knowledge, capturing good practice, and seeking specific stakeholder involvement in the various stages of the Action Planning process. It may also involve, for example, raising awareness of the cost and effectiveness of the range of noise reducing solutions available, engaging with others to inform the cost benefit analysis approaches, and capturing examples of noise reduction where they occur.
Research will have a significant role to play in achieving the objectives of this Action Plan. The gathering of existing relevant research, and commissioning new research where appropriate, will ensure future actions are rooted in a robust evidence base. It will be important to identify, appraise, and add to where effective, sources of relevant and peer reviewed, publicly available information on noise related issues. For example, this may include reviewing the impact of modal shift on noise, collating information on the effectiveness of mitigation measures, such as barrier and surface type, and identifying the way forward for quieter forms of transport.
Over the life of the plan, it is likely that data used in the noise model will be refined as progress is made towards the development of the second round mapping required by the Environmental Noise Directive. This may involve auditing the input data streams, working with others to improve the flow of data to and from the noise model, and developing with traffic modellers a consistent method of setting out the data to maximise its value to the process.
These processes will help identify and appraise technical and design related measures, to reduce noise on transport networks, which could be considered and deployed in future. These developments would be appraised, in terms of their cost-benefit, as part of the core noise planning process described above and in Section 4.6. Where a clear case can be demonstrated for new technologies then the various agencies involved in delivery of transportation will be better informed in any decisions to bring forward such measures as part of programmed network investments (for example, as part of planned maintenance).
The format for the delivery of these supporting activities could include specific events such as seminars, combined with ongoing engagement with industry and non-governmental organisations, as opportunities arise, throughout the five years of the Action Plan.
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