Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for new tram

proposal in 13A line route.

The analysis of the environment and the way a scheme can affect people, is multi-faceted. It
covers many different elements including such as water, the air, noise, traffic and transport,
landscape and townscape character and flora and fauna.

Urban Landscape, Townscape and Visual Impacts

The townscape character and visual amenity of parts of the route is of high quality, such as in.
The introduction of the tram and its associated facilities (for example, tram stops, overhead
electrical equipment) into the street scene, and into urban spaces through which the street
passes, will cause some changes to the present townscape and visual character. In a limited
number of locations property will need to be acquired and demolished, and redevelopment of
part of these sites will subsequently take place. These activities will also result in changes in
the local streetscape.
There are no many trees in the street corridor. They will be contributing importantly to the
visual amenity, an additional planning for creation of green areas should be recommendable.
The alterations to the streetscape that will result from constructing the tram will generally be,
for example, advocates fixing overhead electrical equipment to buildings so as to avoid further
streetscape ‘clutter’ along the route. With regard to townscape, the assessment is likely to
indicate that construction impacts will vary between moderately adverse and major adverse,
but these will be temporary in nature. Operational impacts are likely to range from moderately
beneficial (improved footpath widths in some places) to moderately adverse (e.g. some loss of
street trees). The presence of the passing tram in some narrower sections of the route will
cause there to be localised, adverse visual effects.

Materials

Trams use similar lubricants to all other vehicles in some of their transmission parts, but, because
the running temperatures and stresses are lower, they may not need changing as often.
Trams do not use a gearbox for changing speed, so there are no waste lubricants from that source.

Trams do not have an engine and so do not require regular engine oil changes in the way
combustion-engined vehicles do.

The tyres are made of steel and will last a very long time. Each time they become worn, they are
machined back to shape and continue in use until finally worn-out after many hundreds of
thousands of miles.
Worn-out tyres are re-melted as valuable scrap and recycled in their entirety.

Noise

Trams are very quiet indeed when running and virtually silent when stopped, a fact which has been
cited as a safety problem. It is, however, much easier to make a quiet tram noisy when required,
than to make a noisy bus quiet.

Noise we can consider are the followings:

• during construction;
• directly through operation of the tram past homes and other sensitive land uses;
• indirectly through the effects of line on patterns of road traffic movement
These impacts potentially arise directly from the construction of the tram, the running of the tram
and also from road traffic diverted away from the tram route itself. Noise and vibration surveys
have been undertaken at a number of locations along the route to establish the existing noise and
vibration levels and these will form one of the basis for ongoing assessments. The location of the
survey points was agreed with the local authorities. A survey has also been conducted to identify
the noise and vibration sensitive receptors along the route.

Air Quality

The tram will have impacts on air quality from construction, directly from operation and indirectly by
changing road traffic patterns.
As with noise, dust from construction will be strictly controlled but significant impacts are still likely
to occur along the route because of the close proximity of some neighbouring properties to working
areas.
The tram itself will not emit any air pollutants as it will be electrically powered but there will be
emissions from electricity generation.
Trams emit no fumes whatever, they have no smell and leave no residue except the minutest
amounts of harmless metal dust from the track and wheels and occasional traces of ozone from
sparking.

Traffic and Transport

Current users of the transport network who may be affected by the construction and operation
of the proposed tram include highway users, users and operators of public transport, cyclists
and pedestrians.
During construction, present users (in private cars, light commercial vehicles, buses and taxis
and on cycle and foot) may experience delays through temporary closures and diversions.
Temporary restrictions to access to property, businesses and other facilities may be required.
Construction materials and waste material for disposal will be imported and exported by road.
The environmental assessment will identify the extent to which the stated aim of the proposed
tram system will be achieved, (to improve the provision of public transport, carrying greater
numbers of passengers at faster speeds along the route). The likely effects of the operation of
the tram on other traffic at key nodes on the route is also being assessed as well as any
potential disbenefits and benefits to users of the current public transport system. Off-route
there may be increases in traffic on some roads that result in traffic conditions deteriorating.
If reductions in illegal loading and parking can be realised, these may have a positive effect on
traffic in general and cyclists in particular. Similarly in some centres full or one-way closure to
non-public transport could benefit cyclists. There will be some loss of pedestrian space to the
tram notably on the narrower street sections through other shopping areas. The impacts of this
on the amenity, facility and safety of pedestrians is being assessed.
Changes in accessibility by commercial vehicles and in loading and parking arrangements and
their impact on local businesses is being assessed. The effects may be adverse or beneficial
depending on the nature of changes and the overall change in traffic conditions.