OUTDOOR NOISE, TRANSPORTATION, AND CITY PLANNING

City planning is awakening to noise pollution brought about by more numerous and powerful cars, buses, trucks, motorcycles, special vehicles, construction and other powered equipment, and more and more aircraft overhead. This article discusses some of the physiological and psychological effects of noise on people, as well as the economic aspects of noise abatement programs in the cities. For example, a freeway which causes high noise levels on adjoining property influences the type of land use which locates in this borderland or the design and acoustical insulation of buildings to attain necessary or desirable interior sound levels. The urban traffic noise situation for Los Angeles is described and projected 19 years hence. The importance of the rapidly increasing number of aircraft flying over cities and the development of extensive VTOL and STOL commercial operations are discussed. The article concludes by enumerating some noise control measures for freeways, motor vehicles, buildings, aircraft, airports, and recommendations for legislation, planning and operations, and information and analysis.