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Final Draft Noise and Vibration Study Kitchener Corridor

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Final Draft Noise and Vibration Study Kitchener Corridor Final Draft Noise and Vibration Study Kitchener Corridor GO Rail Network Electrification Project 03-Dec-2020 Prepared by: Contract: QBS-2014-IEP-002 Revision DC Authorization X X Alain Carriere Amber Saltarelli Senior Project Manager / Associate Project Manager X Andrew Gillespie Program Manager REVISION HISTORY Revision No. Date Purpose of Submittal Comments DA 04-Sep-2020 Draft Submission to Metrolinx N/A DB 22-Oct-2020 Metrolinx comments addressed N/A DC 03-Dec-2020 Final Draft Submission N/A This submission was completed and reviewed in accordance with the Quality Assurance Process for this project. Revision DC 03-Dec-2020 Executive Summary Metrolinx and Hydro One (as co-proponents) jointly completed the GO Rail Network Electrification Transit Project Assessment Process (TPAP) in 2017 to convert six Metrolinx-owned Rail Corridors from diesel to electric propulsion. The 2017 Environmental Project Report (EPR) assessed the environmental effects associated with new infrastructure and associated rail traffic increases. Since 2017, Metrolinx has developed a more detailed design and schedule for how increased passenger service will be delivered for the GO Rail Expansion Program in the future, involving further infrastructure and rail traffic changes. These proposed changes require a reassessment of potential noise and vibration effects as part of an addendum to the 2017 EPR. RWDI was retained to complete an updated environmental noise and vibration assessment for the GO Rail Network to support the addendum to the 2017 EPR. The objective of this study was to assess how noise and vibration levels will change from existing operations (2015) to the proposed future operations, and to determine whether mitigation measures may be required. The methodology for noise and vibration studies for Metrolinx rail infrastructure projects as part of a TPAP follows guidance provided in the “Protocol for Noise and Vibration Assessment” in December 1995 (the “MOEE/GO Protocol”). Existing and future noise and vibration levels were predicted to assess potential effects according to the applicable guidelines. In areas where predicted levels were found to be above the applicable guidelines, mitigation options were investigated and will be considered by Metrolinx. This report addresses potential noise and vibration effects along the Kitchener (KT) Rail Corridor west of the UP Express Pearson International Airport spur at Highway 427. The portion of the KT Rail Corridor east of the UP Express Pearson International Airport spur has been assessed as part of the Addendum to the 2014 UP Express Electrification TPAP. Other Corridors were evaluated in separate Noise and Vibration Study reports. Cost Benefit Assessment Metrolinx has expanded the scope of its OnCorr TPAP reports on Noise and Vibration to include detailed assessment of the constructability and cost benefit of any mitigation to be investigated in accordance with the MOEE/GO Protocol. In the past, constructability and cost benefit were addressed at the detailed design stage of a project, rather than at the environmental assessment stage. For a quantitative assessment of constructability and cost benefit, the mitigation measure is defined as a solid noise wall with a nominal vertical dimension of 5 to 7 m, a minimum surface density of 20 kg/m2, and, where necessary, a noise-absorptive surface. The assessment was carried out jointly by a team of expert acoustics and civil engineering teams. The acoustics team provided the preliminary location and height of each potential noise wall. The civil engineering team determined the constructability, precise location, design and cost of each potential noise wall. The acoustics team then determined the number of receptors that benefit from the wall design by 5 dB or more, and the average noise reduction (insertion loss) achieved at the benefitting receptors. The following cost benefit measure was then used to determine the optimal locations of noise walls, where the maximum number of receptors will benefit from a measurable noise reduction: 퐶표푠푡 Cost Benefit = 푁푢푚푏푒푟 표푓 퐵푒푛푒푓푖푡푖푛푔 푅푒푐푒푝푡표푟푠 × 퐴푣푒푟푎푔푒 푁표푖푠푒 푅푒푑푢푐푡푖표푛 This approach, which provides an objective method to allocate Metrolinx noise mitigation resources to those locations where total achievable noise mitigation benefits are greatest, was applied to each potential noise wall identified in the preliminary acoustical assessment. The resulting set of feasible i Revision DD 03-Dec-2020 noise walls (minimum acoustic benefit of 5 dB, constructible and economically feasible) are recommended for implementation. Operational Noise Assessment Adjusted Noise Impacts were determined in accordance with the MOEE/GO Protocol. Adjusted Noise Impacts at all first row receptors with direct line of sight to the Rail Corridor were deemed noticeable (i.e., between 3 dB and 4.99 dB) or significant (i.e., between 5 dB and 9.99 dB). Mitigation was investigated for areas with significant impacts and determined to be technically and economically feasible for 2 barriers spanning a total length of approximately 1 km. For electric traction power facilities, the predicted noise levels at nearby receptors were below the applicable limits. Therefore, noise mitigation for electric traction power facilities was not required. Operational Vibration Assessment Predicted vibration effects of some trackwork and switches were found to meet the MOEE/GO Protocol limits. No vibration mitigation was recommended. Separate Assessment of Construction and Operation Phase Noise and Vibration Impacts Due to the exceptional size and complexity of the GO Expansion program, Metrolinx assessed the Noise and Vibration impacts of the construction and operation phases of the Project in individual separate reports. The construction phase reports deal only with the construction phase of the individual infrastructure component at a given location and are written independently by experts, (e.g., grade separation, bridge improvement, pedestrian tunnel). The operation phase reports deal with the noise and vibration impacts of the regular operation of trains on each expanded and improved rail corridor that is part of the GO Expansion program. They also address construction-related impacts for relatively minor construction projects including the electrification infrastructure. The construction phase noise and vibration impacts of new layover facilities are addressed in a separate, stand-alone report. These provisions are described in the Metrolinx work plan for the noise and vibration study of GO Expansion program, which was submitted to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks (MECP) prior to the commencement of the study. The operation phase reports address the noise and vibration impacts of train operations per planned “maximum” service levels (10% addition to planned levels during peak periods) on the expanded and improved rail network - fully accounting for every relevant element of the infrastructure – including the new grade separations, new/improved bridges, and layover facilities. Hence, the rail noise and vibration implications of the proposed infrastructure are accounted for in the operation phase report of each corridor, to provide a more consistent and efficient assessment process. The potential noise and vibration impacts of any change in road traffic conditions resulting from grade separation and other component projects were not assessed, since these impacts are expected to be insignificant (much less than 5 dB) and generally positive (a noise reduction). Construction Noise and Vibration Assessments The Bramalea PS is in an industrial area sufficiently set back from adjacent buildings such that no exceedances are expected for either noise or vibration. No receptors were identified within the zones of influence. Recommendations for implementing a number of mitigation measures and monitoring are outlined in Table 10 and should be considered as best practices for the nearest receptors located outside of the Zones of Influence. ii Revision DC 03-Dec-2020 GO Rail Network Electrification Project Final Draft Noise and Vibration Study – KT Corridor Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................... i Documents.............................................................................................................................................. vii Glossary of Terms .................................................................................................................................. viii Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................................ x 1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Project Scope ................................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Project Assessment Approach ....................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Enhancement of Previous Project Assessment Methodology ........................................................ 3 Diesel Locomotive Silencer Installation ............................................................................... 3 Maximum Height of Noise Barriers.....................................................................................
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