The present Task Force reviewed the issue of urban noise with a view to assessing how noise in the city has changed and to updating approaches for preserving the soundscape as it relates to the quality of life of Vancouver citizens. There is concern that in some of Vancouver's residential areas, urban noise has reached the point where windows must be kept closed day and night to allow for sleep or for a telephone conversation. In many outdoor areas otherwise attractive to tourists and residents, relaxed conversations are nearly impossible. On busy streets, noise from trucks and buses can be so loud that extended exposure could produce damage to a person's hearing. In Europe, urban noise is recognized as a pressing environmental problem.
Nations cooperate with each other in vigorous noise abatement programs.
The first task in the Terms of Reference was to identify the current status of the soundscape. A direct comparison of noise levels between the time of the last comprehensive survey initiated by the GVRD in the early 1970s and today is not available. There is reason to believe, however, that the growth of noise in Vancouver has followed the trend seen in most major cities, with an approximate doubling of the intensity every six years. The largest increase is due to the growth of automobile, bus, truck and motorcycle traffic. With the growth in population and the increase in hospitality and entertainment industries in the Downtown core, other sources have also become more intrusive.