The measure is intended to complement the existing low emission zone. The aim is to make a positive contribution to more sustainable mobility and public health.
Soon, driving in the capital of Catalonia could cost something. Under the slogan "From the city of cars to the city of people", a group of eight environmental and public transport associations have proposed that the city of Barcelona consider a toll of four euros. The idea is part of the "Barcelona'22" campaign, which aims to rid the city centre of cars as much as possible.
A number of positive effects on life in the city and on the environment would be the result of the measure proposed by stakeholders in mid-May. They say the introduction of a toll should enable Barcelona to gain more public space for pedestrians. At the same time, citizens will be made to rethink the habitual individual use of private vehicles and make more frequent use of local transport services. Likewise, accident and noise levels in the city are to be significantly reduced. As a supplement and further development of the already active low emission zone, however, the city toll should above all have a positive effect on the fight against pollution.
With an average of 35,000 vehicles passing through the Spanish metropolis every day, Barcelona is the city with the highest vehicle density and the sixth-highest air pollution in Europe. And this despite the fact that an environmental zone was introduced for the city centre and some surrounding municipalities in 2017. The organisations involved in the project are of the opinion that it is unfortunately still insufficient to significantly reduce pollution. According to calculations by the promoters of the initiative, the introduction of a city toll would, on the other hand, reduce car traffic and the associated pollutant emissions by 21.5 %.
With some exceptions, the measure would affect all private vehicles driving in Barcelona. Regardless of whether they are residents or visitors. According to the proposal, cars with three or more passengers or private vehicles that low-income workers rely on to get to work would be exempt from paying the toll. Also excluded from payment would be public transport, taxis, emergency service vehicles or cars transporting persons with reduced mobility. In addition, everyone would have 10 days of free travel per year. For all remaining car journeys, users of non-exempt vehicles will have to pay the toll the day before they enter traffic instead. This way they will avoid being fined between 200 and 600 euros.
The organisations behind the initiative have indicated that the administration has told them that the city toll would be considered and looked into. However, no official proposal has been made yet. The city council assures that it has indeed taken up the petition. There was not yet time for a comprehensive examination, according to Janet Sanz, responsible for ecology, urban planning, infrastructures and mobility in the Catalan capital. Sanz also pointed out that the introduction of an urban toll would require a change in the law, making agreement between the different administrations "essential". Equally necessary to push the project forward, the reinforcement of the public transport infrastructure. Only in this way could the measure truly "discourage the use of private vehicles" and lead to a mobility turnaround for a greener Barcelona. Indeed, it was proposed that the revenue generated by the city toll, about 370 million per year, should be invested in a budget for the improvement of the public transport network.
However, the proposal of the Catalan associations is not the first time that a petition for the introduction of a city toll has attracted enough attention to be considered by politicians. While a toll is initially seen as an "unpopular" measure, it quickly gains social support when the benefits for the entire population become apparent after implementation. This is at least the case in the nineteen cities in eight European countries where it has been applied. In Barcelona, on the other hand, citizens seem to welcome the possible introduction of urban tolls with open arms from the start. As shown by a survey conducted by the Gabinet d'Estudis Socials i Opinió Pública, 51% of respondents would be in favour of a congestion charge in Barcelona.
However, it is not yet clear how soon the city council will make a decision. Until then, however, don't forget the environmental zone that already exists in Barcelona.