No Beaconsfield administration took leadership to protect the health of 3,450 residents, plus the 200 students in a school.
On the north side, the noise problem is caused by the trains. The MTQ measured noise in 2010 but did not offer any solution because it is not responsible for the rail network.
On the north side, the noise problem is caused by trains more than by cars.
The MTQ realized this as early as 1987 and in 2010, and that was its reason for not proposing a solution for the north side.
“North of the highway, rail traffic strongly influences the daily variation in noise levels since the tracks are very close together. Noise levels fluctuate more significantly, mainly at night with the passage of freight trains. » P.13
“North of Highway 20, in the territory of the city of Beaconsfield, there are no areas where the noise generated by highway traffic reaches or exceeds 65 dBA (…) Noise from the passage of trains from freight and commuter trains is a sound source comparable to and even superior to road noise. » P.15
The shrill noise of the rails wakes residents up at night.
These trains run on diesel and therefore also pollute residents’ air.
42.1 Almost 20% of the city’s population lives less than 300 meters north of the highway 20
Within 300 meters north of the train tracks, there are residents, students and teachers who are assaulted at least 8 hours a day, 200 days a year:
- At least 1,150 residences * 3 = 3,450 residents (excluding new constructions (Adamus, and Westcroft)
- 1 primary and secondary school (207 students, 50 employees)
So, on the north side, at least 3,707 people are attacked : equivalent to 19.2% of the population of Beaconsfield, and including 1357 children
Added to this are the users of the 3 public parks.
42.2 NORTH: More, longer noisier and more dangerous trains
There are 4 tracks splitting Beaconsfield, two for CP and two for CN.
Trafic on CN and CP tracks in Beaconsfield are estimated (p.4) at more than 36 freight trains per day and 47 passenger trains per day on week days.
Rail traffic on the north side has at least doubled in 30 years. On page 115 of the “Schéma d’aménagement of the city of Montreal” (2015), we note:
“In recent years, we have seen an increase in traffic and in particular in hazardous materials in Montreal, as well as across Canada. This situation raises concerns about the health, safety and general well-being of the population. » P.121
42.3 No noise study north of the 20
Residents on the north side of the A-20 highway in Beaconsfield have been orphaned for a solution long before the highway was transformed.
- Several residences and apartment blocks have been built too close to the rails (within 300 meters).
- Many reside UNDER THE RAIL LEVEL
However, several scientific studies show that railway noise is at least as serious an issue as road noise:
An expert report cited in INSPQ 2015 concludes:
“There is strong evidence that the use of well-designed noise barriers is effective as a method of locally reducing transport noise because, based on a before and after efficiency measure, they reduce noise between 5 and 12 dBA. » P.72
“Installing 3 to 4 meter high acoustic barriers can reduce railway noise by up to 15 dBA. P.234
42.4 The right gauge for train noise
The noise measurements taken by the MTQ in 2010 are adequate for the road network. These are measurements of the average noise level over 24 hours in summer.
But several scientific studies have established that for rail traffic it is necessary to measure the peaks.
In 1999, the WHO found necessary to measure the maximum noise level (LAmax), the night peaks for trains traffic because these are the peaks that hurt local residents the most.
“However where there are distinct noises, such as airplane noise or train noise, measurements of different events such as the maximum noise level (LAmax), or the weighed sound exposure level (SEL), should also be obtained in addition to LAeq T. Time-varying environmental sound levels have also been described in terms of percentile levels. » P.3
The difference between the two measurements was illustrated in the following graph from MTQ – Sound level study at Beaconsfield (2010). We see that the noise level is above 65 dB (A) almost all day and especially at night. In addition, the MTQ highlights in red the peaks caused by the passage of 3 trains that night.
