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https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/27432/critical-issues-in-transportation-for-2024-and-beyond

Has Restricting Traffic in Italian City Centers Improved Livability? The Case Study of Brescia

Traffic-Limited Zones (ZTL) in Italy have been used for decades to improve the ambiance of historic city centers (HCC) from the onslaught of motor vehicles, their noise and pollution. ZTL are distinctly different from Congestion Charge Zones used in London, congestion tolls used in Sweden, and from pedestrian-only streets that are present in cities throughout Europe. This paper presents an evaluation of the effectiveness of Traffic-Limited Zones in improving the ambiance and the quality of life for both residents and visitors to the HCC of Brescia. Since there is no single standard for defining “livability” or “quality of life”, especially for city centers, this paper also presents a review of research by others on indicators for measuring city livability. Many potential indicators were identified and twelve livability-ambiance indicators were selected to evaluate whether and how ZTL have improved livability in the city center. These indicators may also be useful in other contexts to evaluate interventions that reduce traffic volumes. Finally this paper presents the case study of Brescia in Lombardy. Several of the selected indicators were analyzed across the time period during which some ZTL streets were implemented. Although impossible to isolate only the effect of the ZTL, it was found that over a key span of time, traffic volumes decreased and both collisions and collision rates declined proportionately more than that of the reduced traffic volumes.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Features: Figures; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: 18p

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01722666
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: 19-01318
  • Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
  • Created Date: Nov 15 2019 4:00PM