TTC working on solutions for screeching 514 Cherry streetcars, Corktown residents told
Residents who live near east-end turn have been complaining about noise since route's launch
The TTC said it's taking several steps to cut down on the screeching noise coming from streetcars on its new 514 Cherry route.
The transit agency hired an acoustic and vibration expert earlier this year after residents in the area complained about the noise. The results of that expert's study are being released Wednesday night at a meeting in the Corktown area.
Aware of the noise, the TTC has ground down the newly-installed tracks at the intersection of Sumach Street onto King Street East. It's also installed a lubrication system nearby, hoping that will cut down on the metal-on-metal grinding noise.
A September survey found the noise had declined slightly, but residents like Jason Mednick said the streetcars are still far too loud.
"It just resonates through the entire neighbourhood," Mednick said.
So far, he said, the colder fall temperatures have dampened the sound. All of the grinding and welding work on the tracks, however, "made zero difference."
Some Corktown residents want the streetcar service stopped until the TTC can solve the problems.
'Wheel creep' a real problem for TTC
Spokesperson Brad Ross admitted the new route is noisier than the TTC wants it to be, and said the problem may be due to "wheel creep" — the sound made as streetcar's wheels jump across tracks during a turn.
Ross said the problem will be alleviated when only new streetcars operate on the route. The TTC planned to only use the new Bombardier vehicles on the route, which boosts the number of streetcars on the busy King Street line, but has been relying on older models due to ongoing delivery delays.
For now, streetcar drivers have been told to slow down while they navigate the turn and the streetcars have been replaced with buses at night.