Effectively tackle vehicle pollution

In 2008, Italy's first traffic charge named 'Ecopass' was launched in Milan in an attempt to reduce road congestion and pollution levels as well as to boost public transport through the re-investment of the pollution charge revenues.
January 25, 2012 Read time: 3 mins
In 2008, Italy's first traffic charge named 'Ecopass' was launched in Milan in an attempt to reduce road congestion and pollution levels as well as to boost public transport through the re-investment of the pollution charge revenues. Transport economist Cosimo Chiffi outlines the success of the project.

Background

The metropolitan area of Milan comprises around 4 million inhabitants and is the centre of the polycentric Lombardy region. Milan also has one of the highest rates of car ownership in the world, with 550 cars recorded per 1,000 citizens at the end of 2009. The high reliance on car use for travel in Milan, together with adverse geoclimatic conditions, results in high pollution levels.

In January 2008 the Mayor of Milan, Letizia Moratti, launched the Ecopass programme, a traffic pollution charge implemented as an urban toll for certain motorists travelling within a designated traffic restricted zone corresponding to the historic central area called Cerchia dei Bastioni, which covers around 8.2 km2.

The charging scheme is controlled by 43 toll gates, from 7.30am to 7.30pm, Monday to Friday. Ecopass is not a congestion pricing programme, like those implemented in London and Stockholm, but rather a variation of these: it was designed with the aim of targeting and charging the most polluting vehicles only, while drivers of green vehicles (cng, lpg, electric and hybrid) pay nothing and residents have some special rates.

Tariffs depend on the engine emission class by type of vehicle. For instance, car drivers pay 10 for a day ticket if they own an Euro 0 diesel car; but only €2 for Euro 1, 2 gasoline cars. The system is based on Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology. Cameras installed at each gate read plates so that the corresponding pollution standard is recorded and the charge is calculated.

Costs and benefits 2008-2009

The operating costs involved in implementing the Ecopass programme in the first year were around €6.5 million, while revenues were around €11.5 million, made up of Ecopass payments only. However, the real benefits to Milan were derived from reducing congestion and pollution through the program.

On average, car trips entering the city centre decreased by 14.4%, in the first year after the introduction of Ecopass. This was clearly reflected in a reduction of PM10 (-23%) and CO2 (-15%) inside the charging area. Car traffic outside of the central area also decreased, by 3.4%. There was a societal benefit through better takeup of public transport in the city: the Milanese public transport company registered a pronounced increase in passengers using the Metro (+6.2%) but also in total on the whole network in the area (+5.7%).

Project:
Cut traffic pollution and congestion in Milan, Italy

Operating Cost 2008-2009:
€6.5 million approx

Benefits:(first year)
•Toll revenues €11.5 million in 2008
•14.4% fewer car trips in target area
•Pollution cut by 23% PM10 and 15% CO2
•Increased use of public transport
•Dramatic increase in green vehicle useIn 2010 the pollution charging system started to lose its benefit over time because of the renewal of the vehicle fleet. Now, 80 per cent of the vehicles entering the traffic restricted zone do not have to pay any charge because they meet the required air quality standard. This has reduced the toll revenues to €10 million in 2009 and around €8 million in 2010, and the level of congestion has therefore increased by 1.8 per cent during the first 6 months of 2010 compared to the previous period in 2009.

The real benefit of the Ecopass programme was that it directly caused traffic composition to be modified. As expected, there has been a dramatic shift in the number of vehicles entering the charging area from tolled to toll-exempted vehicles: the most polluting vehicles now account for only 17 per cent, as against 47 per cent in 2008.

Looking to the future

In November 2010, an Advisory Committee nominated by the Municipality has suggested to follow the example of London: all vehicles entering the charging zone should have to pay a charge of €4 or even more.

Charging, Tolling & RUC

Related Content

  • Electric public transport ‘to reduce Hong Kong’s emissions’
    March 21, 2013
    Electric vehicle manufacture BYD has announced plans for electrifying Hong Kong’s public transport by replacing diesel buses and LPG taxis. Experts anticipate that this will reduce Hong Kong’s vehicle emissions nearly 5 per cent. The company has also unveiled plans to introduce the first fleet of 45 e6 electric taxis in the region later this year. BYD and its partners have already built and tested three charging stations in territory. The second batch of charging stations is expected to be set up before May
    Read More
  • First electric buses hit London’s streets
    December 19, 2013
    Transport for London (TfL) and bus operator Go-Ahead London have begun a trial of the capital’s first electric buses on two routes in the city. The 12-metre single deck buses were built by Chinese manufacturer BYD Auto have zero tail pipe emissions, resulting in lower carbon emissions. The trial will help TfL develop plans for greater use of electric buses in central London in the future, supporting the Mayor’s vision of a central London Ultra Low Emission Zone. The trial will be used to establish wh
    Read More
  • Developments in toll interoperability
    July 16, 2012
    The North Carolina Turnpike Authority's JJ Eden talks about developments within the Alliance for Toll Interoperability. The Alliance for Toll Interoperability grew out of the US State of North Carolina's moves to introduce modern, Open Road Tolling (ORT) and the identification of revenue 'holes' when it came to out-of-state customers. Initially, the Alliance looked to achieve some form of common ground when it came to the use of transponders used by different agencies but alighted on video-based tolling as
    Read More
  • Transport integration separates rural idyll from remote isolation
    June 13, 2017
    David Crawford investigates the operation of Total Transport in some of Europe’s more rural areas. Total Transport is a concept that is gaining traction in Europe as a means of making it easier for people without access to a car and living in rural and remote communities, to travel to work, the shops, schools and hospitals. It involves maximising vehicle availability and integrating scheduled services with other transport services (including taxis) commissioned or contracted by more than one local governmen
    Read More

Highlighted Content