Increased Traffic Noise is a Serious Concern

INCREASED TRAFFIC NOISE

The impact of increased traffic noise from the WCRR is a primary concern for many residents of Valley Ridge, especially for those residents backing onto the north boundary of the Transportation Utility Corridor (TUC) along the TCH. A significant increase in noise is expected for these homes due to the much closer traffic proximity as a result of the new interchange design. The re-built TCH design positions the edge of new, westbound off-ramps as close as 6 metres from the property lines of homes on Valley Meadow Close adjacent to the north side of the TUC. This link will provide more information on other, related concerns.

NOISE GUIDELINES

Although the WCRR is being constructed within Calgary’s city limits, it is subject to Alberta Transportation's noise guidelines, not the City of Calgary's. This is because the ring road is a provincial project being constructed inside the provincial, Transportation Utility Corridor (TUC) right-of-way. TUC's were established in the 1970's and are not subject to the Municipal Government Act, i.e., municipal jurisdictions, nor in this case, the bylaws of City of Calgary. AT's noise guidelines are less stringent than the City's. As a consequence, for a specific location with the same highway noise conditions, the City of Calgary's noise guidelines would require noise mitigation measures, such as a sound barrier, while AT's may not.

AT's noise reduction guidelines use an average noise level over a 24-hour period. Should this average exceed the target threshold of 65 dBA, then sound attenuation measures (possibly a sound barrier) would be required to reduce noise levels to or below the threshold target. Noise measurements or forecasts are made at a point 1.2 metres above ground level and two metres inside the property line (outside the highway right-of-way) and the 24-hour average results are denoted as "dBA Leq24".

The City of Calgary's Surface Transportation Noise Policy TP003 uses the same threshold target of 65 dBA, however, it is designed to account for "peaking" of noise along designated routes. Policy TP003 measures noise based on average of the six highest, one-minute intervals occurring anytime during the peak hour (i.e., the highest 10% within the peak hour) and is referred to as "dBA L10 (Peak Hour)". The City of Calgary’s noise guidelines for truck routes requires that noise levels are measured at a height of 1.5 m above the ground for standard lots (at a distance of 3.0 m from the house or 4.5 m from the property line) or 1.0 m above the center of the main floor deck for walk-out style lots (after 1996.)

The City of Calgary uses its Noise Policy TP003 to assess and prioritize potential noise barrier projects for funding eligibility under the City’s Noise Barrier Retrofit Program (NBRP). Of note, recent budgetary constraints have caused the City to remove all funding from its NBRP program. All existing prioritized noise barrier projects across Calgary are now on hold.

Bullet #3 of AT's noise guidelines appears to open the door for discussions regarding the potential application of the City of Calgary's more stringent guidelines.

ALBERTA TRANSPORTATION's "DETAILED DESIGN" NOISE STUDY

On May 27 2020, AT issued its' detailed design noise study by Patching Associates Acoustical Engineering who was contracted to Associated Engineering. This was AT's final noise study utilized by the contractor, EllisDon. The study was completed as part of AT's WCRR North/DB1 Project. The study's report's purpose was to determine the nature of any noise attenuation measures required based on the detailed design for the WCRR North/DB1 Project. Patching's new, detailed design noise study (May 27, 2020) is an updated version of the original 2018 study.

AT's project website contains a webpage addressing noise guidelines and mitigation.

For background, in 2018, AT contracted Patching and Associates, to conduct a preliminary noise modelling study along the TCH south and east of Valley Ridge. This is the link where you may download Patching's 2018 report.