The spatial distribution of noise barriers in Montreal: A barrier to achieve environmental equity

Abstract

Road traffic noise constitutes a major problem for the health of populations exposed to it over extended periods. From a perspective of environmental equity, we focus on the distribution of four segments of the population—children, seniors, low-income individuals and visible minorities—in noise disturbance zones near major traffic routes of the Montreal Metropolitan Community. First, some corridors along these traffic routes with different levels of noise disturbance are defined according to a number of parameters; subsequently, the overrepresentation of the groups studied is assessed with the help of two indices. Next, we attempt to determine whether these groups have access to noise barriers, abatement measures to mitigate the noise. To assess the overrepresentation of the four groups under examination in protected and unprotected noise disturbance zones, multinomial logistic regression models were constructed for the entire territory, and then for six subregions. The results reveal a situation doubly inequitable for low-income persons and, to a lesser extent, for visible minorities. Indeed, these groups more often live close to major traffic routes and are less likely to be protected by noise barriers. In contrast, children are doubly advantaged.