Response from MoTI re Highway 1 Noise Impact

From: Ashenhurst, Amber TRAN:EX Amber.Ashenhurst@gov.bc.ca Sent: October 24, 2022 11:14 AM Cc: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca Subject: RE: Request to Assess and Mitigate Noise Impact of Hwy 1 in Thetis Lake / Thetis Vale Residential Area

Hello Jordan,

Your email found its way to me, and thank you for sending it. I cannot speak on behalf of your local Mayor and Council; however, on behalf of MoTI I can provide the following perspective:

• Consideration for MoTI’s Policy only applies when a new highway is built or if there are significant improvements planned for a numbered highway (e.g., addition of auxiliary lanes or through lanes, relocation of lanes/ramps, etc.).
• This highway won’t be considered for a noise wall until there is a “project” (as defined in the Policy) that meets the criteria, and I have confirmed with the MoTI Area Manager that there are no foreseen upgrades planned for this section of the highway.

Thus, MoTI is currently not in a position to build a noise wall at this location based on the details of the criteria of a project description within the Policy. Although I can empathize with your circumstances, unfortunately MoTI is not able to make exceptions for individual cases.

Thanks, Amber

AMBER ASHENHURST, MSC, RPBIO PROVINCIAL MANAGER, PROGRAMS, POLICY AND STANDARDS ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT BRANCH MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

---

From: Jordan Mackintosh Sent: September 28, 2022 1:08 PM To: mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca Cc: Eng, Admin TRAN:EX ENG.Admin@gov.bc.ca Subject: Request to Assess and Mitigate Noise Impact of Hwy 1 in Thetis Lake / Thetis Vale Residential Area

[EXTERNAL] This email came from an external source. Only open attachments or links that you are expecting from a known sender.

Good day,

I am a new resident of View Royal and live at 6 Casey Pl, Victoria, BC, V9B 0S9.

I live in a residential area (Thetis Vale) that borders Hwy 1. I have attached a screenshot of Google Maps where I live. The noise level of the highway at all hours of the day is significant enough that I believe it could cause hearing loss with long-term exposure. Currently there are no noise barriers.

I have been recently made aware of the BRITISH COLUMBIA MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE POLICY FOR ASSESSING AND MITIGATING NOISE IMPACTS FROM NEW AND UPGRADED NUMBERED HIGHWAYS. A link is below from what I found online. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/transportation-infrastructure/engineering-standards-guidelines/environmental-management/reference-documents/noise-policy-and-mitigation

I am requesting that town council urgently request an assessment of my subdivision from the province so that a noise barrier can be constructed on the north and south facing sides of Hwy 1 through the Thetis Lake / Thetis Vale area.

Please let me know if there is anything else I can do. I cc'd a government inbox that appears to be attached to the policy.

Thank-you

Jordan Mackintosh 6 Casey Pl Victoria BC V9B0S9