Expressway work 'compensation' could pay for sound barrier

"I'm very sympathetic to the concerns that these people have. I think it's extremely frustrating for them and for us that we don't have all the information, so we can't even do what needs to be done for our own residents," she said concerning the unresolved decades-long noise issue afflicting lower Westmount, which could soon get worse.

In an interview with the Examiner, during which the fate of the City's $350,000 transparent prototype sound barrier at the foot of Abbott Avenue was discussed, Marks said, "I don't see that we have to wait to the end of the (Ville Marie) project" for Westmount to take action for a sound barrier. "I think we have to wait until the plans are clear, we know exactly what's there, and we have to see what we can and can't negotiate with the minister as they're doing it. Because our residents are going to suffer the consequences, and I think we ought to be looking at what sort of compensation there could be in terms of possibly kicking it into a sound barrier, if that's what's appropriate."

As Bruce Avenue resident Ted Semienchuk said recently in an open letter to Marks, a copy of which he sent to the Examiner, "We still need a sound barrier" at the east end of the expressway near Bruce, Greene and Atwater, because "the noise remains a health issue."

Semienchuk, who was a member of the original Sound Barrier Committee during Mayor Peter Trent's time in office, points out that the expressway's present noise level exceeds provincial norms, as was confirmed with measurements taken by the City of Westmount 10 years ago.

Recalling the project presentation given by Quebec's Ministry of Transport at Victoria Hall in January, Semienchuk says, "The City of Westmount now has a golden opportunity to have a sound barrier at no cost to the city. "While I realize that a sound barrier at the expressway level will not address the train noise, the traffic noise reduction would be better than nothing. I believe it is your responsibility to force the issue with the Ministre de transport and make sure that the barrier is included in the overall project."

For now, however, says Marks, "It would be very irresponsible for us to start doing something right now when the final project has not been determined. First of all, the project that they are proposing is not finalized. It has to go through some environmental hearings … So we don't know what the final project would be."