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

  • Conscience versus convenience
    June 8, 2015
    David Crawford looks at new ways forward for public transport. By 2025, nearly 60% of the world’s population will be living in towns and cities, increasing their extent and density, and the journeys that people make within and between them. In response, the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) wants to see public transport’s global modal share doubling (PTx2) by the same date. “Success in 2025,” a spokesperson told ITS International, “will save 170 million tonnes of oil equivalent and 550
    Read More
  • Lyft, Uber have mixed impact on San Fran mobility
    May 14, 2018
    The extent to which ride-hailing has become a real force in the mobility landscape of San Francisco is great for consumers – but there are downsides, a report finds. Andrew Stone takes a look. Uber and Lyft, the two major ride-hailing platforms in San Francisco, are out-competing local cab firms in many ways - and are firmly established as a significant part of the daily mobility mix there, a recent study reveals. Researchers mined publicly-available data derived from the application programming interface
    Read More
  • Russia's high speed toll link - aims and opportunities
    July 31, 2012
    Construction of a new toll link between the Russian capital of Moscow and the country's second-largest city, the port of St Petersburg, is due to start in 2012. Here, ITS International takes look at the project to date and the opportunities for foreign companies to get involved. The construction of a new toll link between the Russian capital Moscow and the country's second-largest city St Petersburg has a number of aims. It will lead to the creation of a high-speed vehicular link between the two which will
    Read More
  • The future looks bright for ITS
    June 4, 2015
    Professor Eric Sampson talks about the past successes of ITS, its potential for the future and the challenges the industry faces. If anybody should know when Intelligent Transport Systems started that person is Professor Eric Sampson, a visiting professor at both Newcastle and London City Universities. Having spent 40 years working for the UK’s Department of Transport and other public administrations, Professor Sampson now supports the European Commission on ITS systems and advises ERTICO ITS-Europe and ITS
    Read More

Highlighted Content