Noise Mitigation from the Don Valley Parkway Near Three Valleys Drive and Lacewood Crescent

STAFF REPORT ACTION REQUIRED Noise Mitigation from the Don Valley Parkway near Three Valleys Drive and Lacewood Crescent

Date: December 18, 2012

To: Public Works and Infrastructure Committee

From: General Manager, Transportation Services

Wards: Ward 34 – Don Valley East

Reference P:\2013\Cluster B\TRA\TIM\pw13002tim Number:

SUMMARY

Residents of Three Valleys Drive and Lacewood Crescent, located in the area between York Mills Road and Lawrence Avenue East, west of the Don Valley Parkway, submitted a petition to the local Ward Councillor (Ward 34 – Don Valley East) requesting the extension of an existing noise barrier along the west side of the Don Valley Parkway to attenuate the noise generated by traffic on the highway. North York Community Council, at its meeting on November 6, 2012, in considering a communication from the local Ward Councillor in this regard (NY20.23) requested that Transportation Services explore the feasibility of extending this noise barrier to address the residents' concerns.

A noise assessment had been previously conducted by a qualified engineering consultant in this area in 2006. Staff have reviewed this study, examined current traffic volumes, and assessed future conditions and have concluded that the existing and future noise levels do not warrant the construction (or extension) of a noise barrier at this location, based on Ministry of Environment noise guidelines.

Although the extension of the existing noise barrier is physically feasible, it would not result in an appreciable or noticeable reduction in noise levels generated by traffic on the Don Valley Parkway because of the distance between the highway and the homes (over 200 metres). The estimated cost of the extension of the noise barrier from its current southern terminus to the south limit of the homes (a distance of approximately 370 metres) would be approximately $1 million.

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RECOMMENDATION

The General Manager, Transportation Services recommends that:

1. This report be received for information.

Financial Impact

There is no financial impact resulting from adopting the recommendation in this report.

However, should City Council decide to approve a noise barrier adjacent to the Donalda Golf Course (a length of 370 metres), the estimated cost would be approximately $1,000,000. This funding is currently not included in the 2013 Transportation Services Capital Budget and would have to be considered as part of the 2014 Capital Budget process.

The Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer has reviewed this report and agrees with the financial impact information.

DECISION HISTORY

North York Community Council at its meeting of November 6, 2012 considered a communication from the local Councillor of Ward 34 (Don Valley East) entitled, "Request for Report on Mitigation of Noise from the Don Valley Parkway"(Item NY20.23). The details of that communication can be viewed through the following weblink: http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2012/ny/bgrd/backgroundfile-51190.pdf

In considering this communication, North York Community Council adopted the following item:

"1. Direct the Acting General Manager, Transportation Services, to investigate the feasibility of extending the noise barrier on the west side of the Don Valley Parkway at the Donalda Golf Course, to mitigate the noise level experienced by the residents living on Lacewood Crescent and Three Valleys Drive, and report back to the appropriate Committee by the end of January 2013 on a recommended solution, including any associated costs for such work."

ISSUE BACKGROUND

A number of residents on Lacewood Crescent and Three Valleys Drive have signed a petition to the local Councillor (Ward 34) expressing concern about elevated noise levels emanating from traffic on the Don Valley Parkway (DVP). The residents have requested the southerly extension of an existing noise barrier adjacent to the southbound lanes of the DVP, next to the Donalda Golf Course, to address their concerns.

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COMMENTS

Existing Conditions

Lacewood Crescent and Three Valleys Drive are local roads located between York Mills Road and Lawrence Avenue East approximately 200 metres west of the DVP (see Appendix 1 – Context Map). Within this 200 metre area, homes on both these roads are screened by roughly a 100 metre-wide grove of trees and the Donalda Golf Course.

An existing noise barrier runs along the outer shoulder of the southbound lanes of the DVP. The barrier extends from a point 300 metres south of York Mills Road to the northerly limit of the Donalda Golf Course. The existing noise barrier is parallel to Lacewood Crescent where residences are the closest to the highway. In order to address the residents' concerns, the noise barrier would have to be extended by approximately 370 metres. The location of these streets, their proximity to the DVP, and the location of the existing noise barrier are illustrated in Appendix 2.

Noise Mitigation Requirements

The Ministry of Environment (MOE) Guidelines for measuring noise levels are based on the scientific measurement and modelling of noise which is measured in units of decibels (dBA). The noise from roads can typically range from 40 dBA for a local street at night up to 75 dBA for highway traffic. To put these noise ranges into perspective, Table No. 1 below provides a list of comparable noise levels.

Table No. 1: Typical Noises and Comparable Decibel Levels

Noise Source Noise Level (dBA)

Domestic Vacuum Cleaner 80 dBA

Highway Traffic 75 dBA

Corner of Busy Arterial Intersection 70 dBA

Arterial Road 65 dBA

Normal Volume Conversation 55 dBA

Quiet Restaurant 50 dBA

Residential Street at Night 40 dBA

Rustling of Leaves 20 dBA

According to MOE Guidelines, noise control measures are only required where noise sensitive areas (e.g., backyards or front yards of homes) experience noise levels greater than 60 dBA. If the sound level in these sensitive areas is less than or equal to 55 dBA, no control measures are required. If the sound level is between 55 and 60 dBA physical

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control measures may be implemented to reduce the sound level to 55 dBA but are not required based on MOE Guidelines.

Consultant's Noise Assessment

In 2006 Transportation Services retained the services of an engineering consulting firm qualified in noise assessment studies to investigate the noise environment at 23 locations throughout the City of Toronto. One of those locations was 146 Three Valleys Drive, located in the area where noise mitigation is currently being requested. This property is located approximately 250 metres west of the DVP and is screened partially by the intervening houses and the grove of trees located next to the golf course as shown in Appendix 2.

The consultant's assessment included both field noise data collection and the prediction of future noise levels using an MOE approved modelling method. Noise data was collected over a 24-hour period at 15 minute intervals using a sound meter that was placed on the side-yard of the property. The consultant chose to place the sound meter at this location to ensure maximum exposure to the road noise coming from the DVP, thereby representing the worst case scenario. The resulting noise data collected was analyzed, with the final sound levels determined to be 52 dBA.

As part of the assessment the consultant also modelled the future noise levels to the year 2017 (a 10-year time horizon is typical). When predicting future noise levels for a receptor location the following variables are taken into consideration:

24 hour daily traffic volumes: Percentage of medium and heavy trucks; Posted speed limit; Distance from the roadway; Type of ground between the receptor and roadway; Shielding provided by intervening buildings, obstructions or topography; and Roadway elevation and gradient.

The primary variable in predicting future noise levels is the 24 hour daily traffic volume. Historical traffic volumes on the DVP in this area have been growing by 1% annually. The actual and predicted traffic volumes, adjacent to the golf course, are summarized in Table No. 2, below. (Note: the 2009 volumes are the most recent traffic counts available)

Table No. 2: Comparison of 24 Hour Daily Traffic Volumes on the DVP

Traffic Volumes (2006) Traffic Volumes (2009) Traffic Volumes (2017) (Actual) (Actual) (Predicted)

Southbound Northbound Total Southbound Northbound Total Southbound Northbound Total

79,521 87,618 167,139 76,940 85,875 162,815 87,840 96,785 184,625

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When comparing the total volumes between 2006 and 2009 there is a slight decrease of 2.5% which is within the typical range of daily traffic variation. For the purposes of predicting future noise levels, the consultant used a one-percent factor and applied it to the higher 2006 volumes. The resulting total traffic volume used for future noise prediction was 184,625 (for 2017). The predicted 2017 noise level based on this forecasted traffic volume is estimated to be 52dBA in the noise-sensitive area, the same noise level as measured in 2006, which is well below the MOE limit of 60dBA. Therefore, the extension of the noise barrier located on the west side of the DVP adjacent to the Donalda Golf Course, while physically feasible, is not technically warranted or required to satisfy MOE noise guidelines. Furthermore, the benefits of such an installation, in terms of noise level reduction, would not be appreciable.

Estimated Noise Mitigation Costs

In the event that City Council recommends the extension of this noise barrier, it would extend from the end of the existing noise barrier located at the north end of the Donalda Golf Course to a point 370 metres further south. The estimated unit cost for a 4-metre high noise barrier is approximately $2,700 per linear metre, which includes the cost of noise wall panels, foundation and steel posts, and installation, including traffic management measures required during installation. The cost of this 370-metre noise barrier extension would be approximately $1,000,000.

CONTACT

Nazzareno A. Capano, P. Eng. Manager, Operational Planning and Policy Transportation Services Division Tel: (416) 392-7766 Fax: (416) 392-4808 E-mail: [email protected]

SIGNATURE

______Stephen M. Buckley General Manager, Transportation Services

ATTACHMENT

Appendix 1 – Three Valleys Drive and Lacewood Crescent – Context Map Appendix 2 – Location of Existing and Requested Noise Barrier