Noise barrier out of TTC budget

The TTC has taken a previously approved noise barrier near Eglinton and the Allen Expressway out of its 2011 capital budget.

Councillor Joe Mihevc said he’s heard noise complaints from residents on Wembley Road, so he successfully pushed for funding of a noise barrier along the north side of a TTC commuter parking lot and the south side of the road’s residential properties.

“The last four to five years, there’s been ongoing consistent complaints that (residents) can’t go in their backyards because of the honking, beeping and cursing as people enter onto the expressway,” he told the Town Crier.

“There’s been a 10 year plan for all the noise barriers on the Allen,” he said. “This is the last piece (to be funded).”

In 2010, about $1.2 million funding was approved, but that’s been cancelled, he said.

“They were going to design it, tender it (for contract) this year and build it next year,” Mihevc said. “(Now) it’s not in the budget for 2011 or 2012.”

This is not deferred funding, Mihevc said it has changed from a funded project to being completely unfunded. At yesterday’s TTC capital budget meeting, he advocated the money be put back in. He was partially successful as staff will report back on the issue for the TTC’s Feb. 2 meeting.

“If it does not get funded now, it will never get funded. The TTC has some (financial) wiggle room in this year and next years’ budgets,” said Mihevc, the former TTC vice chair. “But the provincial money for a number of funding projects runs out in 2013. That’s where the rubber hits the road.”

He said if residents want this project to move ahead they need to contact the TTC commissioners now.

“A good neighbour builds good fences,” he remarks. “One of the neighbours (the TTC) can mitigate the noise of another neighbour.”

TTC chair Karen Stintz said before the commission can look at issues of how it can be a good neighbour, it has to consider whether the commuter parking lot where the noise barrier would be constructed will still be around.

“There’s a question of what happens to the parking lot when the Eglinton LRT goes through,” Stintz said Jan. 14. “Let’s answer that question first then focus on what as can do on being a good neighbour.”

She said the province has given all indications the Eglinton Light Rapid Transit will proceed.

She has no specific date on when TTC staff will report back on the feasibility of funding the noise barrier as planned.