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TRANSCRIPT
Streetcar Noise Reduction – King & Sumach Intersection
Community Meeting Toronto Transit Commission
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
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STREETCAR NOISE REDUCTION
KING & SUMACH INTERSECTION
AGENDA
1) Welcome and Introductions
2) Presentation
3) Discussion
4) Next Steps
3
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
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RECAP – COMMUNITY CONCERNS
Streetcar noise
1) Squealing noise - streetcars
turning
2) Rumble - eastbound track
switch, on King St
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RECAP – COMMUNITY CONCERNS
Streetcar related noise (continued)
3) Streetcar horns, motorists
on streetcar right of way
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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NOISE TESTS
STREETCAR INTERSECTIONS MEASURED
King and Sumach
Broadview and Queen Bathurst and Fleet
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COMPARABLE STREETCAR INTERSECTIONS
• The lower the curve radius, the higher the
probability of wheel squeal
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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.
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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.)
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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
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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.
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COMPARATIVE INTERSECTION TESTING
Noise measurements – May 4, 2017
King and Sumach - Queen and Broadview – Bathurst and Fleet
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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
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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
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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.
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NEXT STEPS – SERVICE UPDATE
• Regular scheduled 514 Cherry streetcar service will
resume on July (TBD), 2017. (Wheel-Trans bus service
ends).
