Highway 2A Sound Mitigation Update

The intent was to evaluate extent of transportation noise in the area and opportunities to mitigate the noise, including the exploration of building a noise barrier. As part of the feasibility study, a noise study was completed to confirm the location and desired height of the sound barrier infrastructure and investigate alternative sound mitigation approaches, such as lowering the road classification or reducing posted speeds. Additional studies, including an Arborist Report, Geotechnical Report, and Soil Characteristic Report, were also completed. The final deliverable provided an options-assessment and a Functional Design of sound barriers and informed high-level capital cost estimates for sound mitigation infrastructure. The City of Toronto does not have a program to assess the eligibility to implement sound mitigation infrastructure along municipal roadways or expressways. While some jurisdictions have programs for assessing the eligibility of noise wall mitigation at locations adjacent to roadways or expressways (e.g. the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, the Region of Peel, and the Town of Oakville), at the municipal level these programs typically include a requirement for cost-sharing between residential property owners and the municipality. Given that the City of Toronto does not have a means of assessing and prioritizing eligibility for sound barriers (except where those requirements exist as part of the development approval process), or a mechanism to fund (and potentially cost-share with adjacent landowners) such infrastructure, Transportation Services does not recommend advancing the implementation of sound mitigation for Highway 2A.