Europa XXI (2015) vol. 28

Abstract The analysis of the influence, exerted by the road projects on traffic intensity, was performed for the period 2000–2010 on the basis of data on the intensity of traffic of passenger cars and heavy good vehicles over the network of out-of-town national and provincial roads. An abrupt increase of the number of cars and the initiation of the intensive infrastructural undertakings contributed to an essential increase in the intensity of road traffic in Poland. Opening of a motorway or of an expressway entails a shift of a part of traffic, especially of a part of the transit traffic, from the parallel national roads over to the newly constructed road segments. A motorway has, in comparison with the parallel national road, an important competitive time-wise edge, but the situation gets complicated when a motorway fee is introduced. Local factors also exert a significant influence on the changes in traffic intensity.

Keywords: traffic intensity, passenger vehicle traffic, heavy good vehicle traffic, road fees

Piotr Rosik [rosik@twarda.pan.pl], Instytut Geografii i Przestrzennego Zagospodarowania im. S. Leszczyckiego PAN
Sławomir Goliszek [sgoliszek@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland
Karol Kowalczyk [karol.kowalczyk@poczta.umcs.lublin.pl], Uniwersytet Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej w Lublinie, Wydział Nauk o Ziemi i Gospodarki Przestrzennej

Citation

APA: Rosik, P., Goliszek, S., & Kowalczyk, K. (2015). The impact of selected road projects on changes in traffic intensity. Europa XXI, 28, 9-32. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2015.28.1
MLA: Rosik, Piotr, et al. "The impact of selected road projects on changes in traffic intensity". Europa XXI, vol. 28, 2015, pp. 9-32. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2015.28.1
Chicago: Rosik, Piotr, Goliszek, Sławomir, and Kowalczyk, Karol. "The impact of selected road projects on changes in traffic intensity". Europa XXI 28 (2015): 9-32. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2015.28.1
Harvard: Rosik, P., Goliszek, S., & Kowalczyk, K. 2015. "The impact of selected road projects on changes in traffic intensity". Europa XXI, vol. 28, pp. 9-32. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2015.28.1

Abstract The purpose of the study, whose results are reported in the present paper, was to assess the changes in the spatial accessibility, resulting from the realisation of large road investment projects in Poland in the period 2004–2013. Attention was primarily focused on changes in overall accessibility and on investment projects, constituting three chosen case studies. The method, selected for the measurement of the level of spatial accessibility and of its changes, was based on the indicator of potential accessibility. Each analysis was carried out in parallel in three dimensions: European, national, and regional. It was stated that the improvement in the international and national accessibility, which took place in Poland due to the road projects, was highly uneven in space. It was determined by the location of the routes constructed and the distribution of the demographic potential in space. The resulting distribution of accessibility became more polarised, this being inevitable in the situation of undertaking numerous projects within a short time. The projects realised served more the international and inter-metropolitan connections, while their influence on the improvement of the situation within the provinces was smaller. The study confirmed the earlier apprehensions that the motorways might produce the “tunnel effect” (understood as limitation of the service to uniquely the long-distance connections). This sort of threat is decidedly smaller in the case of the expressways. It was also demonstrated that the correct location of the nodes might have a perceptible impact on the spatial reach of the positive effects from the projects.

Keywords: potential accessibility, Poland, road projects

Tomasz Komornicki [t.komorn@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland
Marcin Stępniak [stepniak@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakowskie Przedmieście 30, 00-927 Warszawa, Poland

Citation

APA: Komornicki, T., & Stępniak, M. (2015). New investment projects in the road corridors and the improvement of the potential accessibility in Poland. Europa XXI, 28, 33-52. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2015.28.2
MLA: Komornicki, Tomasz, and Stępniak, Marcin. "New investment projects in the road corridors and the improvement of the potential accessibility in Poland". Europa XXI, vol. 28, 2015, pp. 33-52. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2015.28.2
Chicago: Komornicki, Tomasz, and Stępniak, Marcin. "New investment projects in the road corridors and the improvement of the potential accessibility in Poland". Europa XXI 28 (2015): 33-52. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2015.28.2
Harvard: Komornicki, T., & Stępniak, M. 2015. "New investment projects in the road corridors and the improvement of the potential accessibility in Poland". Europa XXI, vol. 28, pp. 33-52. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2015.28.2

Abstract Accessibility of public services constitutes an essential element, defining the level of development of a given region and the standard of living of its inhabitants. The present report attempts to shed light on the spatial accessibility to services in the local dimension, with consideration of the important factor, constituted by the development of road infrastructure, which, side by side with economic advantages (enhancement of competitiveness and attractiveness) and improvement of accessibility, should also bring social effects, in particular – increase of spatial mobility and improvement of the overall living standards and the quality of life (Domańska, 2006). The significance of the development of road infrastructure and its influence on the changes in potential accessibility have also been analysed.

Keywords: transport-related investments, motorways, accessibility, public services

Rafał Wiśniewski [rafwis@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland
Tomasz Komornicki [t.komorn@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland

Citation

APA: Wiśniewski, R., & Komornicki, T. (2015). The influence of road corridors on the social condition of adjacent areas. Europa XXI, 28, 53-70. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2015.28.3
MLA: Wiśniewski, Rafał, and Komornicki, Tomasz. "The influence of road corridors on the social condition of adjacent areas". Europa XXI, vol. 28, 2015, pp. 53-70. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2015.28.3
Chicago: Wiśniewski, Rafał, and Komornicki, Tomasz. "The influence of road corridors on the social condition of adjacent areas". Europa XXI 28 (2015): 53-70. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2015.28.3
Harvard: Wiśniewski, R., & Komornicki, T. 2015. "The influence of road corridors on the social condition of adjacent areas". Europa XXI, vol. 28, pp. 53-70. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2015.28.3

Abstract The study of influence, exerted by the road projects on road traffic safety was carried out on the basis of data, contained in the System of Registry of Accidents and Collisions (Polish acronym: SEWIK) for the years 2006-2012, and the questionnaire-based survey. The level of safety on the motorways and expressways, or, more broadly – on the separate traffic roads, is being assessed as much higher than on the remaining national roads. Construction of a motorway results in a significant drop in the number of persons harmed in the accidents over the connections between the cities considered. The fast traffic roads, including the ring roads, being the segments of expressways, significantly improve the safety over the routes of national roads, but do not entail any important change in the accident rates on other roads.

Keywords: road safety, road accidents, individual accident risk, trafiic intensity

Piotr Rosik [rosik@twarda.pan.pl], Instytut Geografii i Przestrzennego Zagospodarowania im. S. Leszczyckiego PAN
Sławomir Goliszek [sgoliszek@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland

Citation

APA: Rosik, P., & Goliszek, S. (2015). Impact of selected road investments on traffic safety. Europa XXI, 28, 71-90. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2015.28.4
MLA: Rosik, Piotr, and Goliszek, Sławomir. "Impact of selected road investments on traffic safety". Europa XXI, vol. 28, 2015, pp. 71-90. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2015.28.4
Chicago: Rosik, Piotr, and Goliszek, Sławomir. "Impact of selected road investments on traffic safety". Europa XXI 28 (2015): 71-90. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2015.28.4
Harvard: Rosik, P., & Goliszek, S. 2015. "Impact of selected road investments on traffic safety". Europa XXI, vol. 28, pp. 71-90. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2015.28.4

Abstract In the case of the majority of roads built nowadays, the main environmental structural and functional effects include fragmentation of ecosystems and barriers to populations of many animal species. Specific objectives include the following: (a) to determine fragmentation of forest areas in the gminas which are traversed by selected transports routes and to define the role of these routes for an increasing landscape fragmentation; (b) to determine the number of traffic incidents involving animals by road categories, seasons, time of the day or night and distance from forest. For the detailed analyses six research areas were selected through which the selected road sections run: (a) A1 on section Pruszcz Gdański–Grudziądz (operational since 2008) and DK91; (b) A4 on section Wrocław–Opole (operational since 2003) and DK94; (c) DK8 on section Kudowa Zdrój–Wrocław; (d) DK8 on section Augustów–Budzisko; (e) DK17 on section Garwolin–Kurów; (f) S8 on section Radzymin–Wyszków. Data on traffic incidents which involved animals cover the years 2006–2012 and originate from the SEWIK database. The results obtained show that: (1) between 2006 and 2012 the number and percentage of incidents involving animals were increasing on a regular basis; (2) new roads (motorways and expressways) do not significantly enhance the value of formal landscape fragmentation indicators, but constitute tremendous physical barriers. It is proven, inter alia, by a visibly lower number and density (per 1 km of road) of incidents on these routes, compared to other roads; (3) there is no simple relation between landscape fragmentation and the number and location of forest patches on the one hand, and the total number of incidents and their distribution in space on the other; incidents involving animals take place mainly late in the evening and at night; (4) events occur more frequently 100 m away from the forest than at a distance of 100–200 m away, which may prove some preferences as to road crossing place selection by the animals; (5) incidents within built-up areas, especially during the daytime, have different seasonal pattern, in particular there are no pronounced minimum and maximum periods, which may prove that these incidents involve animals other than ungulates.

Keywords: road corridors, environmental barriers, invcidents involving animals, land fragmentation

Jerzy Solon [j.solon@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland

Citation

APA: Solon, J. (2015). Selected fragments of road corridors as environmental barriers. Europa XXI, 28, 91-116. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2015.28.5
MLA: Solon, Jerzy. "Selected fragments of road corridors as environmental barriers". Europa XXI, vol. 28, 2015, pp. 91-116. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2015.28.5
Chicago: Solon, Jerzy. "Selected fragments of road corridors as environmental barriers". Europa XXI 28 (2015): 91-116. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2015.28.5
Harvard: Solon, J. 2015. "Selected fragments of road corridors as environmental barriers". Europa XXI, vol. 28, pp. 91-116. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2015.28.5

Abstract Traffic noise is an inherent element of contemporary societies’ life. Its volume systematically increases as the car number is growing and the road network is developed. Traffic noise, especially road-induced noise, is so widespread in our environment that it is hard to isolate ourselves from it. This paper presents the results of acoustic climate studies conducted in the vicinity of selected road sections in Poland: national road DK8 in the vicinity of Budzisko and Augustów, S8 road near Wyszków and at the final stretch of DK 8 in the vicinity of Kudowa-Zdrój. The studies also covered two areas adjacent to A1 motorway in the vicinity of Kamionek and Pelplin and next to road DK 91, which runs in parallel to A1 motorway. Acoustic climate studies were also carried out along A4 motorway and national road DK 94 in the vicinity of Lewin Brzeski. Measurements were made along the Buszyce–Magnuszewice profile. Noise measurements were made on a total of 11 profiles. The analysis covered certain features of the acoustic climate (equivalent sound level, its maximum and minimum values and duration of noise of a given level). Acoustic climate features were compared with data on traffic intensity and vehicle type structure along the road sections under analysis. The paper also discusses sound propagation in the vicinity of transport routes and the impact of local environment characteristics (landscape relief and humidity) on noise propagation. Possible noise level reduction means to be applied in the vicinity of roads are also discussed.

Krzysztof Błażejczyk [k.blaz@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland
Jarosław Baranowski [j.bar@twarda.pan.pl], Instytut Geografii i Przestrzennego Zagospodarowania im. S. Leszczyckiego PAN

Citation

APA: Błażejczyk, K., & Baranowski, J. (2015). Acoustic climate in the environment of the selected road sections in Poland. Europa XXI, 28, 117-138. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2015.28.6
MLA: Błażejczyk, Krzysztof, and Baranowski, Jarosław. "Acoustic climate in the environment of the selected road sections in Poland". Europa XXI, vol. 28, 2015, pp. 117-138. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2015.28.6
Chicago: Błażejczyk, Krzysztof, and Baranowski, Jarosław. "Acoustic climate in the environment of the selected road sections in Poland". Europa XXI 28 (2015): 117-138. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2015.28.6
Harvard: Błażejczyk, K., & Baranowski, J. 2015. "Acoustic climate in the environment of the selected road sections in Poland". Europa XXI, vol. 28, pp. 117-138. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2015.28.6

Abstract The influence of car transport on the sanitary state of the soils is the subject of numerous investigations, carried out in various regions of the world, including Poland. The purpose of the study here presented was to determine the content of the heavy metals (Ni, Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Cr) in the soils of the areas situated along the roads, characterised by different intensities of traffic, different throughput capacities and smoothness of car traffic flow, as well as different road qualities. Investigations have been carried out in various regions of Poland, in the vicinity of the national roads, expressways, as well as motorways. The samples were collected along the transects, located perpendicularly to the road edge, at distances of 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 metres from the road edge. The analysis of the results obtained allowed for the formulation of the following conclusions: the differences as to the heavy metal content in the soils between the particular segments analysed reach the ratio of over 100 times; the decrease of heavy metal content in the soils follows the distance away from the road towards the open space, and is characterized by a more regular distribution in the case of the areas along the national roads and less regular in the case of areas along the motorways; with similar intensities of traffic, the impact of the motorways on the environment is decidedly lower than of the national roads.

Keywords: noise, acoustic climate, car traffic, sound propagation

Marek Degórski [m.degor@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland
Izabela Zawiska [izawiska@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland

Citation

APA: Degórski, M., & Zawiska, I. (2015). The influence of car traffic on the sanitary state of the soils. Europa XXI, 28, 139-150. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2015.28.7
MLA: Degórski, Marek, and Zawiska, Izabela. "The influence of car traffic on the sanitary state of the soils". Europa XXI, vol. 28, 2015, pp. 139-150. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2015.28.7
Chicago: Degórski, Marek, and Zawiska, Izabela. "The influence of car traffic on the sanitary state of the soils". Europa XXI 28 (2015): 139-150. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2015.28.7
Harvard: Degórski, M., & Zawiska, I. 2015. "The influence of car traffic on the sanitary state of the soils". Europa XXI, vol. 28, pp. 139-150. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2015.28.7