San Vincente des Raspeig starts drafting its Low Emission Zone

The city of San Vicente del Raspeig in Spain (ES) is planning its first Low Emission Zone (LEZ). The City Council has allocated EUR 205 000 for preparatory work over the next two years. The LEZ is not merely a tool to cut out polluting vehicles from a specific area; it is also meant to contribute to the creation of more pedestrian-friendly spaces. To achieve this, the LEZ will update the city’s Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) by focusing on reducing the flow of polluting vehicles and exploring the potential benefits derived from this reduction.

The project to draft the LEZ includes the definition of the spatial area concerned, the design of the LEZ, the implementation details, the monitoring schemes to capture operation and effects, as well as organising and delivering the public participation process embedded in the LEZ creation. The city departments of Environment, Infrastructure, Mobility and Traffic will cooperate in drafting the LEZ. In preparation for the project, the city held technical meetings with the regional level of the Generalitat Valenciana and visited municipalities such as Benidorm that already have an LEZ in place.

Mayor Pachi Pascual states that the LEZ of San Vicente del Raspeig aims to transform the city "towards a model that prioritises people in an environment more in harmony with the environment." Mercedes Torregrosa, Councillor for Environment, adds that "the ultimate goal is to provide spaces where pedestrians gain prominence, while seeking solutions and alternatives to reduce the flow of polluting vehicles in the perimeters of the Low Emission Zone."

Author: Claus Koellinger

Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of the European Commission.