Hello all -
Can you guys sign my petition regarding streetcar noises on our streets if you're interested? Would really appreciated!!
My link:
https://chng.it/pc9nWsTbMy
I will be the blunt one and say you have 2 choices for the noise. Either live with it or move.
None of use were alive when streetcar tracks and vehicles that came mode for moving people in the city.
Streetcars and tracks have change over that 130 years plus and will do so as time goes on, but you will get some type of noise from them. The noise is less than all the traffic on your street, yet people like you think its easier to go after streetcars/subway/buses since they are part of the city that the city has control over than deal with the real problem, the cars.
For the past 20 years dealing with transit, noise is one of a number of standard complaints that surface at all meetings not only on transit, but for development as well.
If you want the the sound of the country, you need to move 100 km away from the city as the city lives 7/24 and will become more noisier as more people move into it.
Have said that, there are things that TTC and the city needs to do to reduce some noise.
Bombardier stated from day one the the new fleet would have no squealing sound when turning, yet the night of the first break testing for 4400 prototype at Exhibition Loop, you could hear the squealing sound as it turn south on to Bathurst St from Hillcrest and have a video of that move. Major failure on Bombardier end.
Because TTC turning radius are below the standards that are needed for the system for over 50 yeas, you get some squealing from the new fleet where it was common on the old fleet.
TTC has rebuilt most of the system to a new standard to reduce noise and replacement timeframe that the tracks are supposed to last 20 years for straight tracks and around 15 for curves. When it comes to replacing the rails, only the topcoat is removed to get to the rail clips that allows a faster removal and replacing the rail with a new topcoat faster than the past. Have seen some done only after 10 years. The base for holding the clips that on steel ties are to supposed to last 50-75 years and the whole thing is supposed to be 100 years. Got about 35-60 years to get to the replacement of the base.
They have also place Streetcar Greasers at various locations.
If TTC had the money along with the backbone, all existing switch should be replace with the new standard ones as well a larger turning radius. The loops themself need to increase in radius, but no land to do it other than going to duel end cars requiring only a stub track to turn.
End of the day, I don't see anyone here sign things like this with traffic doing a number on the streetcar system that the topcoat has to be replace in various location sooner than it should. Want to stop noise, start with traffic.