This consultation was open from:
August 12, 2021
to September 26, 2021
Decision summary
The Environmental Guide for Noise has been updated to reflect current MTO processes and industry best practices. The changes include a new noise model, updated definition of noise sensitive areas, guidance in the approach to municipal noise by-laws, new requirements for assessing pavement types in certain situation, and changes to speed limits.
Decision details
The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) is responsible for identifying and assessing noise impacts of proposed transportation projects.
The MTO Environmental Guide for Noise (Guide) provides a standardized approach for the assessment and mitigation of noise associated with MTO projects. The 2006 Guide has been updated to align with current practices.
Highlights of the new updates include:
- Noise Model: Traffic Noise Model (TNM) will be used as the noise model for future transportation projects. This model was developed by the US Federal Highway Administration (US FHWA), and is the model being proposed for use by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks (MECP).
- Change in pavement type: A noise impact study must be considered for resurfacing projects in which the pavement material will change from asphalt to concrete.
- Noise modeling for unknown pavement type: The noise impact study must consider both asphalt and concrete surface scenarios when final pavement types are not known at the time of assessment.
- Change in speed limits: A noise impact study must be considered when posted speed limits are increased.
- Expanded Definition – Noise Sensitive Areas (NSA): The definition of NSAs now includes community centres, municipal parks, and places of worship under certain circumstances
Highlights of Guidance Clarification:
- Noise barrier assessments: Additional information and an example related to conducting noise barrier feasibility assessments
- Noise Studies: Additional clarification on when a noise study is recommended
- Minor editorial edits to improve clarity and flow of the Guide.
The Guide was finalized on February 28, 2022.
Effects of consultation
Five comments were received that are generally supportive of the changes. Some comments related to requesting the scope of the guide and additional information on noise barrier assessments and noise studies.
MTO appreciates the comments and feedback. While changes were not made to the Guide, several comments will be reviewed and considered for inclusion as part of the next 5-year update.
Comments received can be viewed on the Registry. Highlights include:
- Expand the scope of the Guide to include health impacts and construction related noise. At this time, no changes to the Guide will be made. However, this will be considered during the 5-year review process.
- Comments related to the MECP’s draft Noise Pollution Control (NPC-306) Guide were received. These were shared with MECP as the NPC-306 Guide was posted to the Registry for comment (ERO# 019-3239).
- A comment was received regarding municipal noise by-laws. The Guide explains that the ministry is not required to obtain municipal noise by-law permits as municipal bylaws do not apply. However, the guide does encourage project teams to work with municipalities and meet local bylaws, if possible.
- One comment received was supportive of the transition to TNM. Under the changes to the Guide, the older noise models, ORNAMENT (MECP), and STAMINA (US FHWA) will no longer be used.
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
777 Bay Street
Suite 700
Toronto,
ON
M7A 2J8
Canada
Connect with us
Contact
Katerina Downard
777 Bay Street
Suite 700
Toronto,
ON
M7A 2J8
Canada
Original proposal
Proposal details
The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) is responsible for identifying and assessing the noise impacts on the local area due to its proposed transportation projects.
The Environmental Guide for Noise (the “Guide”) was developed in October 2006 to provide a standardized approach for the assessment and mitigation of noise associated with MTO projects. The Guide is being updated to align with current MTO processes and industry best practices.
Based on MTO’s experience in applying the Guide through various projects since the original version of the Guide and more modern noise modeling software that is now readily available, MTO is proposing several updates to the Guide.
Highlights of the proposed updates include:
- clarification of when a noise study is recommended
- the use of Traffic Noise Model (TNM) as the recommended noise model for transportation projects
- a new requirement where a noise impact study must be considered for resurfacing projects in which the pavement material will change from asphalt to concrete
- a new requirement where a noise impact study must be considered when posted speed limits are increased
- a new requirement where the noise impact study must run both an asphalt and concrete surface scenario when final pavement types are not yet known at the time of assessment
- clarity and example of how to approach noise barrier feasibility assessments
- revised definition of Noise Sensitive Areas to include community centres, municipal parks and places of worship under certain conditions
- revisions for clarity, including the inclusion of examples
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
777 Bay Street
Suite 700
Toronto,
ON
M7A 2J8
Canada
Comment
Commenting is now closed.
This consultation was open from August 12, 2021
to September 26, 2021
Connect with us
Contact
Katerina Downard
777 Bay Street
Suite 700
Toronto,
ON
M7A 2J8
Canada
Comments received
Through the registry
5By email
0By mail
0