Item - 2010.HL33.5

This report provides comments on Metrolinx’ noise and vibration assessments for the Georgetown Rail Expansion and Air-Rail Link.

A review of the consultants’ report identified several limitations in the noise and vibration assessments. In particular, noise impacts at City parks in the vicinity of the Georgetown Corridor were not evaluated and could be significant. Furthermore, the noise and vibration impacts associated with Tier 4 compliant trains, the new MP40 model locomotives and the new Air-Rail Link trains are not known, measured or considered in the analysis.

Assumptions were used in the noise and vibration assessments to fill data gaps with respect to the noise and vibration characteristics of certain current and future trains. These assumptions introduce potentially large uncertainties that are not addressed in the assessments.

The assessments were completed based on projected train volumes that are much higher than Metrolinx now predicts. This overestimation of train volumes could over-predict impacts; however, the potentially large uncertainties in other areas of the assessments may underestimate impacts. Given the data gaps, it is not possible to assess the accuracy of the current noise and vibration assessments.