By Jessica Iaboni
Residents living near the Queensway are frustrated that it could take years before the city constructs sound barriers to block the noise of transport trucks and cars.
The barriers, to go up between Bronson Avenue and Lyon Street, were approved on Feb. 24, but many residents are worried that the government hasn’t committed to a timeline.
“It’s about political pressure,” says resident Stacey Douglas. “It really depends on how many people campaign because right now there are probably 70 projects on the list.”
Douglas, who lives on Arlington Avenue, helped organize a recent public meeting held by Coun. Diane Holmes and a team of Ministry of Transportation experts.
The project was approved but residents weren’t told when the barriers would be built.
“As of now, there is no commitment to an actual construction date,” says Chris Blaney, a ministry environmental planner.
Douglas also questions why the approved barriers aren’t extended from Lyon Street to Bank Street.
Blaney says this area doesn’t qualify.
“There aren’t enough houses within the area and noise isn’t loud enough either,” he says.
Blaney says factors such as funding and noise levels were considered when deciding which areas needed barriers.
The ministry’s most recent study conducted last fall found that noise levels in the area were far above 60 decibels, which is the province’s accepted limit.
“They found that with walls or barriers, over 100 houses would experience a decrease in five decibels,” Douglas says.
Blaney agrees this decrease would make a big difference. He and Douglas say the approval is a step in the right direction.
Mark Buttigieg, a Bay Street resident, disagrees.
He has petitioned for 12 years that the ministry approve the area. Now, he says more must be done.
“We need to get a group of people together to make a plan and stick by it,” he says. Buttigieg doesn’t trust development in the hands of ministry planners like Blaney because they haven’t listened to his concerns in the past. Buttigieg is concerned about both the sound and view of traffic.
His backyard, with large trees and grass space, doesn’t face the Queensway. He says, however, that driving on Bay Street and seeing traffic before reaching his driveway is upsetting. But a wall wouldn’t make him happy either.
“If they put up a grey monolith I’m going to puke,” he says with a disgusted face.
“The aesthetics would offend me,” he adds.
His idea is to block the sound with trees, making the area greener.
Douglas agrees that planting trees would be a good idea but says it’s not the only solution.
“Even though a wall is not aesthetically pleasing, looking at traffic isn’t either,” she says.
There is no green space in her area to landscape and a wall will help to prevent noise she says stops her from opening windows and enjoying the outdoors.
All three agree, however, that something has to be done.
“If there is desire and will they could go up relatively quickly,” Blaney says.
Douglas is optimistic that the sound barriers could be built by the fall.
But she continues to write letters in order to convince local decision-makers to consider the area she insists also deserves some long-awaited peace and quiet.