Noisy tour buses that aggravate some New Yorkers are about to be a thing of the past.

The City Council is expected a pass a law Thursday that would ban open-air tour buses from using speakers to talk to tourists.

The bill’s sponsor, City Councilwoman Gale Brewer, says the sound now penetrates buildings.

Twin America, the company that owns City Sights and Gray Line tour buses, feels the industry is being unfairly singled out.

A company official estimates it will cost $5 million to install a new quiet sound system that would force passengers to listen to their guide through headphones.

“They have enormous diesel engines that make a lot of noise, coupled with microphones that the tour guides use, the combination of that noise is exorbitant,” said bill supporter Barbara Backer.

“Tourism is a very big part of what makes New York City great. It is going to be altered. I wouldn’t think I would want to visit a city and sit on a double decker bus and be forced to use a headset,” said Twin City representative David Chien.

All open-air buses would have to comply with the new rules by 2015.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg is expected to sign the legislation.

(Source: NY1)