City council is being asked to consider adding more trees along a stretch of the E.C. Row Expressway in Windsor to help reduce the traffic noise impacting certain neighbourhoods.
An item going to Monday's council meeting asks that administration work with the Parks Department and City Forester to investigate opportunities to add trees along E.C. Row Expressway on the north and south sides between Walker Road and Howard Avenue.
The neighbourhoods along that particular stretch of expressway do not include any sound mitigation measures, such as a wall or noise barrier.
Ward 9 councillor Kieran McKenzie says it's the only stretch of the expressway that is in close proximity to a residential area that doesn't have any sound barriers.
"It's a bit of a challenge for residents who live in close proximity to the expressway through that corridor," he says. "The noise is noticeable and it does exceed some of the decibel levels where it's recommended that there be stronger mitigation measures put in place to address the sound."
McKenzie raised the sound issue during the Sept. 6, 2022 meeting of council.
A report in response to the question was brought to the most recent meeting of the Environment, Transportation and Public Safety Standing Committee, which resulted in the committee approving the option of trees being explored as a way to reduce the noise.
McKenzie says that in the past, sound barriers are typically funded by the developers and the cost is rolled into the price of the home.
He notes that when that section of the city was known as Sandwich East, the council of the day didn't require developers to erect sound barriers when the subdivisions were being built.
The report from administration does indicate that several of the subdivision agreements covering homes in that area contain a requirement to have a warning clause registered on the title, letting home owners know about potential noise issues.
McKenzie says sound barriers were not recommended by administration due to the high cost and who would actually be responsible for paying for them.
"They recommended that trees could be a potential option that we can consider to address some of the challenges. Probably not as effective as sound barriers may be but trees do have an ability to impact sound and volume," he says.
McKenzie describes it as getting a field goal rather than scoring a touchdown, but it is certainly something that will improve the situation.
McKenzie adds that council has already approved the budget for tree planting and it wouldn't cost any extra money to consider planting trees along the expressway.
Windsor City Council will meet Monday, June 12 at 4 p.m.