Area C is a congestion charge introduced in Milan, Italy, on January 16, 2012, replacing the previous pollution charge Ecopass and based on the same designated traffic restricted zone or ZTL (Italian: Zona a Traffico Limitato), corresponding to the central Cerchia dei Bastioni area. The ZTL encompasses about 8.2 km2 (3.2 sq mi) and 77,000 residents (4.5% and 6% of the city total, respectively). The area is accessible through 43 gates, monitored by video cameras.
Area C started as an 18-month pilot program based on the partial implementation of the results of a referendum that took place on June 2011. The objective of the program was to drastically reduce the chronic traffic jams that take place in the city of Milan, to promote sustainable mobility and public transport, and to decrease the existing levels of smog that have become unsustainable from the point of view of public health. Area C was definitively approved as a permanent program on 27 March 2013.
Video Milan Area C
Background
Milan has one of the highest European rates of car ownership, as more than half of Milan citizens use private cars and motorcycles, ranking second only after Rome, and among the highest in the world. The city also has the third-highest concentration of airborne particulate matter among large European cities, both in terms of average annual level and days of exceeding the European Union PM10 limit of 50 micrograms per cubic meter, according to a 2007 study supported by several environmental groups. Due to its lingering air pollution problems and associated health problems, in 2007, and for a trial period, the city banned 170,000 older cars and motorcycles that do not pass strict environmental emission standards.
In January 2008, the mayor of Milan, Letizia Moratti, launched the Ecopass program expecting a 30% cut in pollution levels and a 10% reduction in traffic. The program imposed a charge on vehicles with higher pollution levels. Ecopass was an incentive for motorists to buy less pollutant cars, and in a few years the number of cars with free access were the majority. Despite the fact that these vehicles having less polluting engines, the free access helped less with the congestion problem. This trend contributed to a return to previous traffic levels and at the same time reducing revenue collected. This threatened the ability to keep the system in operation.
Maps Milan Area C
Description
The charge applies to every vehicle entering the city centre on weekdays (except Saturday) from 7:30 am to 7:30 pm, on Thursdays the operation is limited to 6 pm. Every vehicle entering the charging zone must pay EUR5 regardless of its pollution level. Residents inside the restricted area must also pay to reach their houses but they have 40 free accesses per year and a discounted fare of EUR2.
Access to the area is forbidden for diesel Euro 3 or below, gasoline Euro 0, and private vehicles over 7 m (23 ft) long. Electric vehicles, motorcycles and scooters, public utilities' vehicles, police and emergency vehicles, buses and taxis are exempt from the charge. Hybrid electric and bi-fuel natural gas vehicles (CNG and LPG) were exempt until 1 January 2013. This was later extended until the end of 2016.
The program was temporarily suspended between 25 July and 17 September 2012 due to a ruling by the Council of State after protests by parking owners in the center of Milan. After the suspension in summer 2012, the entrance in the area is free from 6 pm on Thursday.
1. until October 2019
2. residents have also 40 free accesses per year
3. includes public transport, emergency vehicles, taxis
4. with exceptions
Chauffeur vehicles (Italian: Noleggio con conducente, NCC) with over 9 seats pay higher entrance fees, from EUR40 to EUR100, depending on the length of the vehicle.
Results
Early results
In the first month cars entering the city center decreased by 33%, with a total of about 700,000 vehicles less during the month or about 40,000 per day. A substantial decrease in traffic congestion in the restricted area was also reported, while traffic outside the area remained unchanged. The congestion charge did not appreciably affect pollution levels, with the exception of black carbon level, which decreased by about 30% in the ZTL.
Data from the first two months showed a decrease in traffic also outside the restricted zone. There was a reduction of about 6% of vehicles outside the ZTL compared to the same months of 2011.
The reduced congestion in the city center resulted in increased average speed for public transport, especially for buses and during peak hours. While there has been an increase of only about 3% in the whole day, the average speed in the morning peak hour (8-9 am) for surface public transport was about 10% higher than pre-Area C levels.
The traffic reduction inside Area C restricted area since its implementation, compared to the same period of the previous year, was 34.3% by 30 April 2012. The total traffic reduction in the Milan area was about 7% By 30 September 2012, Area C had been operating for a total of 140 days (since 16 January). During this period there has been a decrease of 32.8% in vehicles entering the area, compared to 2011.
Later results
Later results confirm the decreasing trend in traffic congestion in the city. In the first 6 months of 2015 the average number of cars entering the restricted area was 28.6% less than in the same period in 2011, during Ecopass.
There were 21.6 million entrances to the restricted area in 2014 during the time of operation of Area C. Most of users enter the restricted area only few times a year, with about two thirds of cars entering for 4 times or less during 2014. Moreover, most of residents (71%) living inside the area did not use up all the 40 free permits a year.
Taking into account an estimate for the willingness to pay for PM10 reduction, a study estimated that the welfare gain produced by Area C from air pollution reductions alone is $3 billion. This is despite the fact that Milan's vehicle fleet is relatively clean compared to other cities in the world.
Revenues
All net earnings from the scheme are invested to promote sustainable mobility and policies to reduce air pollution, including the redevelopment, protection and development of public transport, "soft mobility" (pedestrians, cycling, Zone 30) and systems to rationalize the distribution of goods. In 2012, the program had a total revenue of about EUR20.3 million and net earnings after expenses of over EUR13 million. These resources were used to increase service on the Milan Metro, on surface public transportation network and to finance the extension of the BikeMi bike sharing scheme.
Criticism and controversies
Area C, as its predecessor Ecopass, came with much criticism, especially from right-wing politicians. Demonstrations were held against Area C and a piece of hate mail containing a bullet case and text against the congestion charge was sent to the mayor Giuliano Pisapia.
A referendum to stop the program was promoted by opponents. However, promoters of the referendum failed to reach the minimum number of signatures to propose it.
Protests by parking owners in the center, who had seen a decrease in profits, led to a ruling by the Council of State which suspended the program on 25 July awaiting further investigations on the legitimacy of the scheme. Area C was subsequently reintroduced on 17 September.
See also
References
External links
- Official website Area C, Municipality of Milan - Comune di Milano
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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