Following Krakow, other cities are also declaring their plans to create environmentally friendly transport zones. The Wroclaw zone could have been created in three years.
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Depending on the option chosen, the zone can reduce particulate matter (PM) emissions by more than half and more than 20 percent. emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from transport.
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The City of Wrocław, in cooperation with the Polish Association of Alternative Fuels, measured vehicle emissions and prepared possible scenarios for creating a clean transport zone in Wrocław based on these.
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In the recommended option, called “balanced”, the zone covers about 6 percent. the area of the city is less than 23 percent populated. residents.
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Thanks to SCT, average emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) will be reduced by 23% and particulate matter (PM) by 58%.
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Taking into account both the environmental benefits and the transport needs of residents, the recommended option is to introduce the first stage of SKT from 2025.
The Clean Transport Zone (SCT for short) is a method that has been used for years in Europe to improve air quality in cities and care for the health of their inhabitants. There are already more than 300 of them, and 200 more are being prepared. In Poland, the first SKT will be built in Krakow in July 2024. The introduction of the zone means restricting the entry of the oldest cars that emit the most pollutants.
According to the authors of the analysis, the area of the Wrocław Clean Transport Zone should take into account the local conditions of the area. In the case of Wroclaw, these are extensive water and railway junctions, so they should form the boundaries of the zone.
In the variant recommended by the PSPA, referred to as “balanced”, the border runs along the railway embankment from the Main Railway Station through the railway stations Wrocław-Mikolajow and Wrocław-Popowice, and from the north along the Old Oder, connecting with the railway sections in the area. intersection of Krakowska and Na Niski Lonki streets. In this proposal, this zone covers approximately 6 percent. the area of the city is populated by 22.6 percent. residents living there.
Emission standards for vehicles entering the SCT
The recommendations for the requirements that cars entering the clean transport zone must meet are based on studies of actual exhaust emissions from vehicles driving on the streets of Wrocław. European Emission Standards (Euro) are the most objective criteria for determining the negative impact of ICE vehicles on air quality.
The report proposes three options for imposing restrictions. Taking into account both the environmental benefits and the transport needs of residents, the recommended option is to implement the first stage of SKT from 2025 in a sustainable way. The minimum requirements for diesel vehicles are at least Euro 4 (cars manufactured since 2005), and for petrol vehicles at least Euro 3 (manufactured since 2000).
In three years, i.e. from 2028, vehicles complying with the Euro 5 standard for diesel vehicles (since 2010) and Euro 4 for gasoline vehicles (since 2005) will be allowed into the clean transport zone. At the third stage, from 2032, Euro-6 diesel cars and Euro-5 petrol cars will be able to freely move around the zone.
Implementing the above option could reduce average nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by 22.64% and particulate matter (PM) emissions by 57.82%, while eliminating 13% from traffic relatively marginally. the total number of vehicles currently in the city.
- Regardless of its final form, a clean transport zone should be progressive - it should be introduced gradually, and the timetable for changes should be easily accessible and known in advance. This will allow residents to make informed decisions regarding their vehicles and behavior on transport. explains Klaudia Zagorzytska, co-author of the report, expert of the Polish Association of Alternative Fuels.
Wroclaw is considering the possibility of an entrance fee to the SCT
It is important to note that the city has exemptions for entry, in particular for vehicles catering to people with disabilities, as well as specialized or historical vehicles. Wroclaw is also open to introducing one-time fees for people who periodically enter the zone, or a subscription system for SCT residents using non-compliant cars who need additional time to adapt to the criteria.
Source: Wprost
