The Girona City Council has initially approved the low emissions zone (ZBE) project, which among other things will restrict circulation from Monday to Friday, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., to those vehicles that do not meet the minimum environmental requirements and do not pay the road tax in the city. The measure will not affect, however, those cars domiciled in Girona, regardless of their environmental label.
The announcement was published today in the Official Bulletin of the Province (BOP) and starting tomorrow a period will be extended until June 4 to present allegations to the project.
According to the City Council, this measure will mean an annual reduction of 16.4% of nitrogen dioxide emissions, one of the main gases in the combustion process, and a saving of more than 15,200 daily trips.
The low emissions zone encompasses an area close to 2 square kilometers, which represents 14.6% of the municipality’s urban land. It is one of the areas with the most traffic in the city and where the environmental air quality data is less satisfactory.
Specifically, the area covers from Devesa Park to Emili Grahit Street and from Riu Güell Street to El Carme and Barri Vell. The dissuasive car parks of the Fontjau pavilion, the Pedret roundabout, the Migdia park and Calle Emili Grahit, next to the municipal car park, are excluded from that area.
All those who pay the tax on mechanical traction vehicles (IVTM) in Girona at the time of approval of the ordinance will be freed from this restriction. Cars dedicated to the transportation of people with reduced mobility, illnesses and disabled people will also not be affected; emergency and essential vehicles and those that have foreign registration and comply with environmental requirements.
In addition, all cars from outside Girona without an environmental label will be able to access it up to a maximum of 24 times a year, as well as those that carry out unique activities or services; those that transport people who require periodic medical treatment, cars from mechanical workshops.
Also cars that are necessary to be able to work and for those who are five years away from reaching the legal retirement age or those that prove the purchase of a new motor vehicle that meets the requirements to access the ZBE.
Citizens will be able to request exemptions and authorizations through a website centralized by the Metropolitan Transport Authority (ATM) of Barcelona, ??which will provide service to all municipalities centrally.
The measures included in the ZBE have been the result of a participatory process that has included the opinions of around 160 people. 79% considered that health should prevail over mobility.
Regarding the type of vehicles that can circulate in the ZBE, 83% of those surveyed considered that cars that pay the circulation tax in Girona and that do not meet the minimum environmental requirements should be able to circulate.
Specifically, 43% stated that they should always be able to circulate; 20%, only for two years; 15% stated that they should be able to do it for four years and 5%, only for six years. Only 17% thought that they should not be able to circulate through the ZBE.
All of this data that has emerged from the participatory process allowed the project to be drafted, which ended in June 2023. The City Council’s intention is that the works that must be carried out to implement these zones are financed by Next Generation funds.
The project is the previous step to the drafting and approval of the ordinance that will regulate this area.
