Have your say: Rumblings
in Lower Westmount
Earthquakes and Train Quakes, Westmount 2040 and Pandemic 2020
April 4, 2020
Being optimistic about the future during the stressful lockdown to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic is indeed a difficult endeavour. Daring to be optimistic in the face of a daily diet of news regarding the pandemic may make one appear to be fiddling while Rome burns. However, not to be indelicate, it is a truism that most of the infected will recover, kids will be back at school and the battered economy will grow again. It is not outrageous to imagine that many are using the downtime to think of volunteering, being health conscious, improving skills and education, but also issues such as road conditions, zoning, urban planning, community events and things left undone, be they of concern to individuals, family or community.
On Sunday, March 29 at 3:22 am, many Westmounters experienced the third earthquake of 2020. The first one happened in January with an epicentre near the US border. The second earthquake happened earlier this month at around 3:20 am and today’s earthquake also happened at around 3:20 am. Excitement rang out on all social media platforms because, unlike other places with active fault lines, they are rarely felt here unless one happens to live below St Catherine Street in Westmount.
The ground shakes under the Victorian homes, daycares, condominiums, social housing complexes and long-term elderly care facilities that are situated along Hillside Avenue as Exo commuter trains rush by. Those of us who live below St Catherine Street cannot share the excitement of a 3.6 on the Richter scale tremor as such earth movements happen nearly 100 times per day, six days a week from 6:30 am until 11 pm. The frequency of trains has increased since autumn 2019 and the train-made tremors are annoying, especially felt now that we are working from home to comply with authorities trying to stop the spread of COVID-19.
I’d like to remind our elected officials at all levels that the problems of the commuter trains have been harming Westmounters for decades. It is almost beyond belief that despite the years of the phone calls, complaints, government surveys, sound and vibration measurements, Bon-Voisinage meetings, powerless and zero budget volunteer groups and expertise from elected officials, the problems of the trains rather than getting better have become worse. The noxious diesel exhaust, the 3.6 on the Richter scale tremors and 92.5 dB sound levels 100 times a day are deleterious to a healthy quality of life.
For decades there have been several excuses, each more preposterous than the other, as to why there has been no physical work done to reduce the noise and vibration from the commuter trains. Cycling North on Rue de Courcelle near the entrance to Home Depot, one can stop and admire a well-designed glass sound barrier that prevents the car noise from spilling over onto the parking lot of Home Depot and homes in other parts of newly finished Highway 136. Lower Westmount would certainly benefit from a similar well-maintained barrier.
The existing poorly maintained sound barrier prototype on Abbot Avenue reduces train noise by 10 dB. Though graffiti-ridden it does reduce some of the train noise and diesel exhaust. Some people have suggested that there is a lack of funding to create a quieter lower Westmount. Such excuses only invite cynicism among some of the electorate, which is bad for democracy. That Westmount collects nearly half a billion dollars in property taxes per electoral cycle and is a community that remits hundreds of millions of dollars in provincial as well as federal income taxes annually has officials claiming there isn’t enough funding is insulting even to a child’s intelligence.
The technical expertise to solve the problems preventing the commuter trains from being good neighbours with the citizens of lower Westmount exists. A full implementation of a good plan will be financially beneficial for the citizens of Westmount 2040. Those of us today owe it to future generations to have a cleaner, greener and sustainable city from Edgehill down to St Catherine Street, from Claremont to Atwater and Dorchester.
Because of the COVID-19 virus, public consultations on the future of Westmount 2040 were put on hold. When we are allowed to return to shop, commute to work and go to school, I hope that there will be an enthusiastic attempt to solve the train issue. Let us not inflict on the residents and workers of Westmount in 2040, the disgusting train noise, vibration and noxious fumes characteristic of Westmount 2020. Stay safe everyone, stay kind to your neighbours. This pandemic will pass.
Nigel Goddard
Irvine Avenue
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of WestmountMag.ca or its publishers.
Dear reader,
Have Your Say allows you, the WestmountMag.ca reader, to submit an opinion on local news and events or any topic that you feel may be of concern or interest to the community.
To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names and city of residence must appear with each submission – pseudonyms are not permitted. By submitting an opinion, you accept that WestmountMag.ca has the right to edit and publish that opinion in whole or in part.
An opinion may be submitted in either official language at info@westmountmag.ca. Please note that WestmountMag.ca does not endorse the opinions expressed in Have Your Say.
Image: Pixabay
Call me crazy, but… Isn’t it just plain common sense as a home buyer to take into consideration that when you buy a home right next to existing train tracks and a freeway, you are going to hear and feel the results of that decision? Maybe take that into consideration with your next home purchase.
Excellent question. However, as in many cases, it isn’t that simple. The homeowners, daycare, public housing residents and elderly long term care residents have been subjected to a 100% increase in daily traffic. When I purchased my home, the realtor showed me plans and drawings of an 8 metre sound barrier that was to come. Sure enough, a prototype was built in 2006 and it does reduce the train noise by a substantial 10dB. It works. We renovate our homes with care and love, Cities build LEED Gold arenas, individuals see a fitness instructor to improve their health. Our species is curious and we address and fix problems. This is why we have a council. To fix problems and improve life. The elderly in the facility right next to the tracks on Hillside Avenue deserve better than to spend their last days being shaken and forced to ingest toxic fumes. We can do better. Being good neighbours with commuters trains isn’t rocket science. We have the expertise, money, creativity and ability to solve this problem.
Your letter reflects the ongoing frustration of many of us in the south end of Westmount. Those of us who speak out are only demanding the right to a safe environment, devoid of excess noise and air pollution. These problems arose many years ago and are only increasing.
Yet, there are ways to mitigate them as we have seen in many communities throughout Quebec. The reason we have not seen much action is that there are too many players – federal, provincial, municipal – who can’t seem to work together to solve the problem. Every election it’s the same thing – candidates pretend to be in awe as to “Why nothing has been done?” Then they are elected and… nothing happens.
This is in response to Mr. Goddard’s recent letter concerning train noise in lower Westmount. I speak as a long-time resident of Abbott Avenue, where there is a sound barrier.
I was around when the barrier went up. The improvement was noticeable and 10 Db is a very useful reduction. Too bad about the graffiti, but what can you do?
Another recent noticeable improvement was the installation of long welded rail on the line. This pretty well eliminated the “clickadee-clack” rail joint noise. It may not reduce the maximum sound levels as the engine goes by, but it certainly greatly shortens the time signature of the passing train.
The current primary source of noise are the diesel engines. This too can be eliminated by converting the line to electrification. The new light rail system currently under construction will be electrified. I believe that this will run on the current right-of-way, but am not as up to date as I should be on this. Electrified trains on long welded rail just hum by!
Efforts to further reduce train noise by the city should focus on pressuring the transit authorities to electrify the commuter lines. This is not inexpensive but would solve the problem. We should be looking for positive solutions to allow more trains to operate, and should avoid the NIMBY (not in my back yard) philosophy that has stalled so many rail transit projects.
David Taylor
116 Abbott