Streetcar Noise Reduction – King & Sumach Intersection Community Meeting Toronto Transit Commission Tuesday, June 27, 2017 STREETCAR NOISE REDUCTION KING & SUMACH INTERSECTION AGENDA 1) Welcome and Introductions 2) Presentation 3) Discussion 4) Next Steps 2 RECAP NOV 2016 MEETING AND UPDATE • New route – 514 Cherry streetcar service • First new streetcar route in Toronto in 16 years (June 19, 2016) • Track curves designed for low floor streetcars • Old streetcar operation June 2016 – April 2017 • New, low floor streetcar operation as of May 2017 3 RECAP – COMMUNITY CONCERNS Streetcar noise 1) Squealing noise - streetcars 2) Rumble - eastbound track turning switch, on King St 4 RECAP – COMMUNITY CONCERNS Streetcar related noise (continued) 3) Streetcar horns, motorists on streetcar right of way 5 RECAP – COMMUNITY CONCERNS ADDRESSING NOISE Temporary restricted hours for streetcar service to address noise Streetcars replaced by Wheel-Trans bus south of King Street. • Bus after 10 p.m. daily • Bus before 7 a.m. on weekdays • Bus before 10 a.m. on weekends 6 RECAP – COMMUNITY CONCERNS – QUALITY OF TRANSIT SERVICE Concern with Wheel-Trans bus operation and streetcar transfer. • TTC riders requested return of regular 514 streetcar at all hours to Distillery Loop as soon as possible (eliminate transfer to Wheel-Trans bus). • Safety and accessibility concerns expressed with late night transfers, waiting at stops, particularly for persons with disabilities. • 514 Cherry route is now designated accessible with full operation by low floor streetcars. 7 POST NOVEMBER 2016 MEETING • Deploy new, low-floor streetcars onto 514 Cherry as they are delivered. • Conduct additional noise measurements and verify reduction with 3rd Party Testing. • Continue operating Wheel-Trans shuttle until 514 operated by low floor streetcars and noise reduction verified by testing. 8 POST NOVEMBER 2016 MEETING 1. City improved signage on Cherry Street • City installed additional signs “Do Not Enter – TTC Vehicles Excepted”, • “No left turn” and “No right turn” signs 2. Inspect rail components at King/Sumach • Inspected and confirmed to be in good condition 3. Inspect trailing switches at King/Sumach • Inspected and confirmed to be in good condition • Cleaned regularly 4. Distillery Loop lubrication system • Inspected and confirmed in good operating condition • Cleaned regularly • Remote monitoring 9 POST NOVEMBER 2016 MEETING 5. Concern regarding speed of streetcars crossing King/Sumach intersection • Posted new overhead speed signs - 10km/h • Increased monitoring via GPS • Speed checks conducted weekly Nov. 20, 2016 to May 21, 2017 (excluding week of Dec 25/16) • Over 85% of operators driving at or below 10km/hour 10 NOISE TESTS STREETCAR INTERSECTIONS MEASURED King and Sumach Broadview and Queen Bathurst and Fleet 11 COMPARABLE STREETCAR INTERSECTIONS • The lower the curve radius, the higher the probability of wheel squeal 12 OTHER NOISE MITIGATION • Lubrication system at Distillery Loop • New low floor streetcar with on-board lubrication system. • Wheel-Trans shuttle bus at late and early hours. • Wheel-mounted noise damping rings in development; prototype testing in Q4, 2017. 13 NOISE MEASUREMENTS AT KING/SUMACH • August 10, 2016: Base line Noise and Vibration measurements • October 4 and 6, 2016: Noise and Vibration measurements after rail enhancement work • May 4, 2017: Simultaneous noise measurements at King and Sumach, Queen and Broadview and Fleet and Bathurst (Measurements conducted and analyzed by TTC’s consultant; Aercoustics Engineering Ltd.) 14 NOISE MEASUREMENTS AT KING/SUMACH EAST TO SOUTH TURN August, October 2016 vs. May 2017 Measurements • Over 4 hours of testing with multiple streetcars passing. • Average level over 4 hours. • Low frequency end of chart is where the low rumble noise • High frequency end is where the high pitch volume • Noise levels trending down at King/Sumach 15 NOISE MEASUREMENTS AT KING/SUMACH NORTH TO WEST TURN August, October 2016 vs. May 2017 Measurements • Over 4 hours of testing with multiple streetcars passing. • Average level over 4 hours. • Low frequency end of chart is where the low rumble noise. • High frequency end is where the high pitch volume. • Noise levels trending down at King/Sumach. 16 COMPARATIVE INTERSECTION TESTING Noise measurements – May 4, 2017 King and Sumach - Queen and Broadview – Bathurst and Fleet 17 UPDATES • 514 Cherry operated with all new low-floor accessible streetcars as of May, 2017 • Wheel-rail interface is improving, noise mitigation program is heading in the right direction as evidenced by noise level reductions. • On-board wheel lubrication being enhanced for higher lubricant output 18 RAIL/WHEEL NOISE - FACTORS Weather • Weather (e.g. rain, humidity, temperature fluctuation) can influence streetcar noise levels. • TTC acknowledges it is not possible to eliminate streetcar wheel/rail squeal noise - particularly after rainfall, which washes lubricant away. New Technology • TTC is continuing to strive to reduce streetcar noise levels by exploring new technology. • Onboard wheel lubrication system. • Vehicle side noise reduction through new wheel-mounted noise dampening rings is being pursued. • Improved lubrication system units at streetcar loops 19 NEXT STEPS • As committed, more measurements in August 2017 to verify consistency and sound levels. • Wheel-mounted noise damping ring to further reduce high-pitch squeal is in development. Prototype testing to begin in Q4, 2017. Pursuing this technology to benefit entire city. • King/Sumach signals for streetcar detection being repaired by contractor – City/TTC. 20 NEXT STEPS – SERVICE UPDATE • Regular scheduled 514 Cherry streetcar service will resume on July (TBD), 2017. (Wheel-Trans bus service ends). 21 Questions Contact: Sr. Community Liaison [email protected] 416-393-2197 .