POLITICAL AGREEMENT TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY IN
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POLITICAL AGREEMENT TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY IN THE
METROPOLITAN AREA OF BARCELONA
Guaranteeing the quality of the air we breathe is equivalent to protecting the health of people
and the environment.
All around the world, metropolitan areas, which concentrate the largest part of the population,
suffer problems related to pollution due to high concentrations of nitrogen oxide and
suspended particles (PM10), noise, etc. Although Barcelona is not among the most
vulnerable cities in this respect, its metropolitan area is affected; background concentrations
of nitrogen oxide are excessively high and they need to be significantly reduced.
Furthermore, despite the improvement in PM10 air quality levels during recent years, it is still
necessary to increase actions to reduce the existing values.
Studies conducted over the years and work carried out jointly with other European cities
facing similar problems have shown that in the case of Barcelona, urban pollution is due to
structural causes and so the measures to be taken must also be structural. It should
furthermore be considered that brief episodes of high pollution are generated occasionally,
the elimination of which requires a rapid and specific response; however, the real challenge
of air quality in the territorial sphere of 40 municipalities in the Barcelona urban area
(hereinafter, Àmbit-40) is to gradually reduce ordinary levels to the values recommended by
the WHO.
Given the complexity of the sources of air pollution and the dispersion of remits in dealing
with the causes, the action taken by the Government of Catalonia to reach the goals set in
the plan are insufficient and the active involvement of local and metropolitan administrations
is essential, as well as the responsible collaboration of the Spanish State.
For this reason, in September 2014, the Government of Catalonia approved an Air Quality
Improvement Action Plan implementing a series of actions across all sectors and the mobility
sector in particular, in Àmbit-40.
Local administrations set up strategies to improve air quality within the scope of their remits,
including Barcelona City Council's Plan for Improving Air Quality in Barcelona for 2015-2018
and Programme of Measures to Prevent Air Pollution (2017-2020), the Metropolitan
Programme of Measures to Prevent Air Pollution in Barcelona Metropolitan Area (2017-
2020), air quality improvement plans for municipalities with over 100,000 inhabitants in
protected-atmosphere urban zones (ZUAPs) and the Supramunicipal Action Plan to Improve
Air Quality in Vallès Oriental, which comprise 17 municipalities.
The nature of this challenge requires the coordination and cooperation of the administrations
involved. Only in this way, by combining the action capacities of everyone, will it be possible
to achieve the established air quality objectives.
This document represents the mutual commitment to citizens to set up common objectives
and a common drive framework through which
1THE CATALAN GOVERNMENT AGREES TO IMPLEMENT THE
FOLLOWING
INITIATIVES WITH THE CONSENSUS OF OTHER AUTHORITIES:
a) Coordinated strategies of information, awareness and environmental education will be
established to engage citizens, allowing them to become active, committed players in
changing mobility habits to reduce emissions and improve air quality, with the aim of
preserving the health of people and the environment.
b) Reduction of at least 10% in pollutant emissions related to road traffic within Àmbit-40
within the next five years in order to obtain a global reduction of 30% within 15 years
and gradually reach the levels recommended by the WHO. However, in areas where it
is currently detected that air quality levels are exceeded, there will be an acceleration
in the implementation of more intensive local measures to reach the levels set by the
EU by December 2020.
c) In structural terms, on roads controlled by the Catalan Traffic Service, the Government
of Catalonia will progressively impose the prohibition to drive older vehicles in the
Àmbit-40 area. Specifically, starting 1 January 2019 and barring weekends and public
holidays, the following vehicles cannot be driven in this area:
I. Vans (N1) registered before Euro 1.
II. Passenger cars (M1) registered on or before Euro1.
d) In the event of high pollution episodes declared by the Government of Catalonia:
a. From 1 December 2017, the Government of Catalonia will impose restrictions
on driving the following vehicles on roads controlled by the Catalan Traffic
Service in the Àmbit-40 area:
I. Vans (N1) registered before to Euro 1.
II. Passenger cars (M1) registered on or before Euro1.
b. Actions will be taken in relation to mobility supply and demand through the
following hierarchy of objectives:
I. Reduction of mobility with the recommendation to postpone
unnecessary journeys.
II. Mobility de-concentration to plan rush hours and make better use of
existing resources.
III. Change from the use of private vehicles to public transport, which will
be given maximum operational capacity by City Council and Barcelona
Metropolitan Area (AMB) operators (TMB and CITY BUS) and
Government of Catalonia operators (suburban and regional, FGC,
TRAM and INTERCITY BUS).
c. To optimise coordination of the activities, the affected institutions will approve
an action protocol by 1 July 2017 regulating the following aspects among
others:
2I. activities to be carried out by each authority for each alert level and
coordination thereof, as applicable;
II. mechanisms to activate public transport reinforcement measures by
the different operators, with the coordination of the Metropolitan
Transport Authority (ATM);
III. implementation by the ATM of a special travel pass to attract new
passengers during high pollution episodes; and
IV. communication channels and messages between all the affected
institutions and coordination of communications with the population.
e) More severe restrictions may be imposed locally in structural terms and in the event of
high pollution episodes, depending on the needs of each municipality, through the
implementation of protected-atmosphere urban zones (ZUAPs) in cities, a low
emission zone on the ring roads of Barcelona, territorial protected-atmosphere zones
and a low emission metropolitan zone. Local administrations and the AMB will define
these zones and their implementation schedule in 2017.
f) Incentives will be offered to encourage the replacement of vehicles with low emission
vehicles through aid, toll station or road tax deductions, promotion of eco-labelling and
facilitating the creation of charging stations for electric vehicles and vehicles propelled
by other alternative fuels. In addition, public authority vehicles will gradually become
more ecologically-friendly. These activities must be coordinated and set out in a five-
year plan to be submitted no later than 1 July 2017 with the aim of promoting an
increase in the number of zero emission or eco-labelled vehicles.
g) Investments in public transport infrastructures in the Àmbit-40 area will be prioritised in
line with their impact on air quality. In this regard:
I. In the review of the Master Plan for Infrastructures (PDI) 2011-2020 to
be carried out by the ATM in 2017, a criterion will be included for
evaluating the impact of the pending scheduled work on air quality
improvement.
II. In preparing the PDI 2021-2030, which will be drafted starting in 2019,
the main criterion established in planning public transport
infrastructures will be their contribution to improving air quality.
h) Priority will be attached to mobility planning in local and metropolitan institutions in
Àmbit- 40 on the basis of their contribution to air quality improvement. The review of
the Barcelona Metropolitan Region Mobility Master Plan (pdM 2019-2025), which the
ATM will initiate in 2017, will include measures to meet the objectives established in
this Agreement and to establish the definition of the guidelines to be followed by
planning levels of a less important scope.
i) The generated mobility studies, mandatory in city planning processes, will include a
chapter on the impact on air quality of estimated project demand forecasts and
compensatory measures proposed for that purpose.
3j) The following activities will be promoted to engage companies in reducing mobility in
private vehicles moving in or heading towards Àmbit-40:
I. Business organisations will be asked to sign the Air Quality
Improvement Agreement.
II. Agreements will be signed with companies with more than 500
employees in the Àmbit-40 area for them to draft the corresponding
corporate mobility plans including measures that attach priority to
reducing pollutant emissions into the air before the end of 2017.
III. Approval of a good practices guide before 1 September 2017 to reduce
commuting in private vehicles among employees when high pollution
episodes are declared.
k) Drafting of a white paper on good logistics practices aimed at rationalising the delivery
of goods in urban areas, including measures related to vehicles and vehicle
emissions, harmonisation of regulations, delivery and collection of goods, optimisation
of spaces and logistical means and the intensive use of new technologies, through a
specific agenda of joint actions organised by different administrations, with the
consensus of the sector. It will be submitted in 2017 for implementation in 2018-2019.
l) Ad hoc task forces will be set up by Barcelona City Council, AMB, the Association of
Municipalities for Mobility and Urban Transport (AMTU) and the Government of
Catalonia to study the implementation of a congestion charge in Àmbit-40 within the
framework of the process of reviewing and implementing a new funding model for
high-capacity roads in Catalonia put into operation by the Government of Catalonia.
Conclusions forecast for autumn 2017.
m) A metropolitan green card will be created, giving the right to a free public-transport
travel pass valid for three years, renewable every year and including all ATM services,
for those persons who have deregistered and scrapped their diesel-fuelled vehicles up
to Euro 3 (vehicles manufactured before 2005), petrol- or gas-powered vehicles up to
Euro 1 (manufactured before 1996) and pre-Euro or Euro 1 type motorbikes and do
not purchase a new vehicle during the three-year validity term of the green card.
Municipalities in Àmbit-40 not benefiting from the metropolitan green card can use the
new social and environmental fares system.
n) A coordinating committee will be set up to assess the impact of air pollution on
people’s health, which will meet every year and include the following members:
• A representative of the Government of Catalonia Public Health
Secretariat.
• A representative of the Barcelona Public Health Agency.
• A representative of Barcelona Provincial Council.
• A representative of the Environment and Sustainability Secretariat.
• A representative of IS Global.
o) A coordinating committee will be set up to monitor the conclusions reached in this
Agreement, consisting of:
• A chairperson: The Catalan Minister for Territory and Sustainability.
• A representative of the Catalan Ministry of the Interior.
4• A representative of the Catalan Ministry of Health.
• A representative of the Catalan Ministry of Enterprise and Knowledge.
• A representative of the Catalan Ministry of Governance, Public
Administrations and Housing.
• A representative of the Environment and Sustainability Secretariat.
• A representative of the Infrastructure and Mobility Secretariat.
• A representative of the Directorate General for Territorial Organisation
and City Planning.
• A representative of the Catalan Transport Service.
• A representative of the Port Authority.
• A representative of ATM.
• A representative of Barcelona City Council.
• A representative of AMB.
• A representative of Barcelona Provincial Council.
• A representative of municipalities with over 100,000 inhabitants.
• A representative of municipalities with fewer than 100,000 inhabitants.
• A representative of municipalities in the hinterland area.
• A representative of AMTU.
• A representative of the Catalan Association of Municipalities.
• A representative of the Catalan Federation of Municipalities.
p) The extent to which the objectives of this agreement have been achieved will be
evaluated every year, as well as the investments made by the different
administrations. The Directorate General for Environmental Quality and Climate
Change will coordinate and monitor the agreements adopted and report back to the
committee.
To achieve the shared objectives within the framework of a common drive to improve air
quality in the metropolitan area of Barcelona, each of the administrations adopting this
political agreement undertakes to carry out the following specific actions set out in Annex I.
Likewise, they call on the Spanish Government to fulfil the requirements set out in Annex II.
Barcelona, 6 March 2017.
5ANNEX TO THE POLITICAL AGREEMENT TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY IN THE
METROPOLITAN AREA OF BARCELONA
SPECIFIC UNDERTAKINGS BY THE PARTIES
1. ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT OF CATALONIA:
a) Evaluate air quality in accordance with European directives. Provide the European
Union with information on the levels and degree of implementation of air quality
improvement plans.
b) Develop a pollutant dispersion model adapted to the peculiarity of our territory that
makes it possible to evaluate the efficacy of the measures implemented to reduce
pollutants and improve air quality diagnosis and prognosis. Leverage this tool to
standardise the reporting of information to the European Union. Depending on the
outcomes of the model, the possibility of restructuring the network will be studied to
improve the available air quality-related information.
c) Provide air quality information to local institutions so that they, too, can disseminate it
accordingly to the public.
d) Facilitate the exchange of data on air quality and mobility among the administrations in
order to monitor and evaluate the application of the measures set out in this
agreement.
e) Communicate high pollution episode warnings and declare such episodes.
f) Coordinate traffic control activities in the event of high pollution episodes, through the
Catalan Traffic Service.
g) Establish agreements with stakeholders who can implement actions to reduce
pollutant emissions on a structural basis or during high pollution episodes.
h) Promote flexitime measures among Government of Catalonia staff in the event of high
pollution episodes.
i) Promote cycling and walking and encourage the use of public transport, insisting on
the following aspects in the short term: improvement of local, regional and AVANT
regional railway services managed by Renfe; expansion of the BUS EXPRÉS network;
expansion of the Tramvia tram network; completion of the L9 and L10 metro lines;
expansion of the FGC railway network and services through the purchase of new
trains and implementation of the L8 line; promotion of railway links between Vallès
Oriental and Vallès Occidental; progressive roll-out of the T-Mobilitat system and its
expansion throughout Catalonia; change in the fare model and improvement in the
public transport information system throughout Catalonia by means of implementing a
bicycle lane network that connects residential areas with frequent and daily mobility
areas.
j) Establish new motorway deduction legislation that eliminates deductions for diesel
vehicles, allows electric motorbikes to be used free of charge on motorways and
equates deductions for motorbikes across all motorways. Its approval is scheduled for
spring 2017.
6k) Promote the commitments of the Barcelona Metropolitan Region (RMB) logistics board
linked to efficiency improvement and environmental awareness of goods delivery
vehicles and actions to reduce negative impacts on air quality in goods delivery in
urban areas.
l) Draft a Park and Ride urban master plan in strategic locations to guarantee efficiency
and provide them with sufficient qualification and complementary uses to ensure
feasibility.
m) Promote the construction of HOV (High Occupation Vehicles) bus lanes on the B-23,
C-31 and C-245 roads between 2017 and 2019.
n) Gradually roll out speed limits for environmental reasons on high-capacity roads in
Àmbit-40 and its hinterland.
o) Study measures for the dynamic management and use of special lanes for certain
vehicles.
p) Implement air pollution prevention and control measures in industrial areas.
q) Have tools in place to finance the application of emission reduction measures.
r) Update the legislation on generated-mobility evaluation studies to include
environmental aspects and in particular, measures to reduce impacts on air quality.
s) Without prejudice to the immediate promotion of such measures, update the Horizon
2020 Air Quality Improvement Action Plan, incorporating municipal undertakings and
updating the investment plan.
t) Incorporate the prioritisation of railway network investments agreed within the
framework of the Strategic Board for the Mediterranean Corridor to permit the
implementation of infrastructure and promote services which, like the rail corridor, will
permit the change in the carriage of goods from road to rail.
u) An ad hoc task force will be set by up Barcelona City Council, AMTU, AMB and the
Government of Catalonia to study the implementation of a surcharge on fuel prices to
finance the improvement in the public transport fare system in accordance with the
public transport system funding law of 2015. Conclusions forecast for autumn 2017.
v) An ad hoc task force will be set up by Barcelona City Council, AMB, AMTU and the
Government of Catalonia to study the design of a new mileage-based fare model and
a new usage payment model to replace the 88 travel passes. Once analysed, it will be
approved by the Management Board and presented by AMB, the Catalan Government
and Barcelona City Council. Conclusions forecast for autumn 2017.
w) The Government of Catalonia supports the inclusion of the 36 municipalities into zone
1, pursuant to the act creating the AMB. To execute the implementation, a work group
will be set up by AMB and the Government of Catalonia to study the technical
repercussions. This work group will analyse economic sustainability and technological
availability in order to establish a schedule. Once analysed, it will be submitted by
AMB and the Government of Catalonia. Conclusions forecast for spring 2017 and
implementation of activity in 2018.
7x) Dissemination to the public of information related to the impact of air pollution on
health and measures to reduce exposure to it.
y) Promotion of studies on indicators of the impact of air pollution on health.
2. ON THE PART OF MUNICIPALITIES AND LOCAL SUPRAMUNICIPAL
ORGANISATIONS:
It is proposed that municipalities and local supramunicipal organisations undertake the
following commitments in relation to improving air quality in ZUAPs and hinterland areas.
Depending on the type of local organisation, they are divided up as follows:
a) Àmbit-40 municipalities: Badalona, Barcelona, l’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Sant Adrià de
Besòs, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Castelldefels, Cornellà de Llobregat, Gavà,
Martorell, Molins de Rei, Esplugues de Llobregat, el Papiol, Pallejà, el Prat de
Llobregat, Sant Andreu de la Barca, Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Sant Joan Despí, Sant
Just Desvern, Sant Vicenç dels Horts, Viladecans, Badia del Vallès, Barberà del
Vallès, Castellbisbal, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Montcada i Reixac, Ripollet, Rubí,
Sabadell, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Sant Quirze del Vallès, Santa Perpètua de Mogoda,
Terrassa, Granollers, la Llagosta, Martorelles, Mollet del Vallès, Montmeló,
Montornès del Vallès, Parets del Vallès and Sant Fost de Campsentelles.
b) Àmbit-40 municipalities with over 100,000 inhabitants: Barcelona, l’Hospitalet de
Llobregat, Badalona, Terrassa, Sabadell and Santa Coloma de Gramenet.
c) Barcelona City Council.
d) AMB and included municipalities
e) Provincial Council of Barcelona.
f) Municipalities in the hinterland of Àmbit-40: Abrera, Alella, Begues, Caldes de
Montbui, Castellar del Vallès, Cervelló, Corbera de Llobregat, el Masnou,
Esparreguera, Igualada, la Palma de Cervelló, Lliçà d’Amunt, Lliçà de Vall, Manresa,
Mataró, Montgat, Olesa de Montserrat, Palau-solità i Plegamans, Polinyà, Premià de
Mar, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Sant Climent de Llobregat, Sant Pere de Ribes, Sant
Sadurní d’Anoia, Santa Coloma de Cervelló, Sentmenat, Sitges, Teià, Tiana,
Torrelles de Llobregat, Vallirana, Vic, Vilafranca del Penedès, Vilanova i la Geltrú,
Vilassar de Dalt, Canovelles, les Franqueses del Vallès, la Garriga, la Roca del
Vallès, Sant Antoni de Vilamajor and Vilanova del Vallès, plus those municipalities
that declare their wish to form part of the group.
2.1. ÀMBIT-40 MUNICIPALITIES:
Without prejudice to the agreements adopted by the AMB, they agree to:
a) Cooperate with the Government of Catalonia in making headway on a basis of
consensus and coordination in relation to studying the causes that affect air quality
throughout the territory and in each municipality.
8b) Approve local air quality plans and include air quality improvement criteria in the
related mobility and local energy sustainability plans.
c) Keep the public informed with regard to air quality levels and raise awareness about
the problem of air pollution and its effects on health, both in the case of high pollution
episodes and in structural terms, in conjunction with the Government of Catalonia.
d) Change municipal legislation to establish fines for drivers of vehicles that fail to
comply with prohibitions or traffic restrictions in urban areas.
e) Modify road tax and vehicle parking taxes to encourage the use of greener vehicles.
f) Promote the optimisation of delivery logistics, renewal of vehicles presently on the
roads and harmonisation of municipal legislation in 2017 in relation to goods delivery
in urban areas on a supramunicipal scale.
g) Take action and sign agreements to take action in the event of preventive warnings or
high pollution episodes with industries and managers of public works within their remit
and adapt internal protocols to the declaration of the Government of Catalonia.
h) Review environmental licences and implement prevention and control activities on
industrial establishments located in the municipality.
i) Draft corporate mobility plans and encourage companies in the municipality to do the
same.
j) Promote measures to reduce particle emissions from other sources: public works,
resuspension and municipal services.
2.2. ÀMBIT-40 MUNICIPALITIES WITH OVER 100,000 INHABITANTS:
Apart from their undertakings as municipalities included in Àmbit-40 and those assumed by
AMB, municipalities with over 100,000 inhabitants undertake to:
a) Identify and delimit ZUAPs. Apply parking discount policies and measures restricting
the driving of vehicles that generate higher pollutant concentrations.
b) Apply municipal parking tariffs in blue and green zones, depending on the vehicle's
pollution potential. Apply deductions to vehicles that generate lower emissions and,
advisably, penalise those generating higher urban pollutant emissions (NO2 and
particles).
c) Reduce pollution in school and hospital areas. Reduce traffic and ease congestion in
these areas as much as possible. Establish programmes to convert school routes into
pedestrian areas.
d) Approve strategic noise maps and related action plans. Coordinate action plan
activities to reduce noise pollution with their Air Quality Improvement and Mobility plan
counterparts.
9e) Introduce criteria to improve air quality across the different policies applied, such as
environmental awareness in services, waste collection, natural areas, green urban
areas and logistics.
2.3. BARCELONA CITY COUNCIL:
Barcelona currently exceeds the annual average NO2 concentration limits established by the
EU for health protection and the recommendations of the WHO. It also exceeds the WHO
recommendations in terms of annual mean PM10 concentration limits.
This makes it necessary to implement urgent action strategies coordinated at different levels
- local, metropolitan area, government, State and European – and in areas as diverse as
transport, industry and large infrastructure projects.
Essentially, the problem of air pollution resides not so much in high pollution peaks, which
only occur from time to time, as in annual mean levels. For this reason, it is urgent to
undertake structural measures to generate impacts in the short term that will last over time.
Barcelona City Council considers that the air quality situation requires immediate and
scheduled action in order to implement structural measures that will reduce NO2 and PM10
concentrations in an effective and sustained manner to gradually reach the levels
recommended by the WHO, with a clear time commitment that offers guarantees to citizens.
Although road traffic does not generate the highest emissions in the city, it is the most
important contributor of NO2 and PM10 emissions. Based on this diagnosis, the most
effective strategy for air quality improvement consists of acting on road traffic, reducing the
number of vehicles, ensuring cleaner vehicles and encouraging mobility on foot, by bicycle
and via public transport.
To do this, it is essential to bring about a change in the city model to increase space for non-
motorised mobility. Thus, measures aimed at traffic control and the easing of congestion,
above and beyond their effects on recovering public space and habitability in the city, will
have an important impact on reducing air pollution.
Last November, Barcelona City Council presented the document “Programme of Measures to
Prevent Air Pollution”, with 58 actions to take between 2017 and 2020 that aim to offer a
complete response to the problem of air pollution in Barcelona, i.e., a series of structural
measures that will also respond to high pollution episodes. The programme has 8 basic lines:
Line 1: Special environmental intervention zones: Low emission zone (ZBE) on ring
roads
Line 2: Changes in city model
Line 3: Private vehicle mobility management, promoting a change in model and
vehicle renewals
Line 4: RENOVE programme and change to public transport, mobility
management through parking and vehicle renovation and management
Line 5: Communication and outreach
Line 6: Monitoring of effects on health
Line 7: Promotion of coordinated actions in the sea transport, industry and
corporate mobility sector
10Line 8: Action protocol during high pollution episodes
It is considered necessary to simultaneously address the process of implementing structural
measures with a 2020 time frame and action protocol measures in the event of high pollution
episodes, applied progressively in 2017. In short, the programme actions that Barcelona City
Council has signed up to are the following:
1. Development of special environmental intervention zones.
a) Definition of the low emission zone on the ring roads, in conjunction with AMB
and the included municipalities (2017)
b) Characterisation of vehicles on the roads and assessment of the
environmental impact of current traffic and proposed restrictions (2017)
c) Support in implementing detection and fining systems on the ring roads and
area inside them corresponding to Barcelona City Council (2017)
d) Application of restrictions in low emission zones affected by high pollution
episodes from 2017 and permanently from 2020
e) Delimitation of additional protection areas and measures plan (2017)
2. Changes in city model:
a) Installation of urban superblocks in the neighbourhoods of Eixample, Sant
Martí and Gràcia
b) Once approved, installation of local superblocks in the neighbourhoods of Les
Corts, Sant-Monjuïc, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, Horta Guinardó, Sant Andreu and
Nou Barris
c) Other traffic calming activities: reform of la Meridiana, Pere IV and ring road
side roads
3. Private vehicle mobility management, promoting a change in model and vehicle
renewals:
a) Increase in public transport services
b) Creation of new bus lanes
c) Implementation of phase 5 of the new bus network
d) Implementation of the bicycle lane construction project, expansion of the
Bicing bike sharing system and other measures to promote the use of bicycles
e) Economic and operational support in the change from more polluting vehicles
through access to public transport, Bicing and other discounts
f) Carpool incentives
4. Mobility management through parking regulation
a) Approval of the new tax and fare legislation and gradual expansion of
regulated zones to other parts of the city
b) Promotion of the use of cleaner vehicles: approval of improvements in tax
legislation
c) Positive discrimination in parking regulation
d) Leadership and coordination of the LIVE platform and management and
expansion of the public EV charging station network
11e) Promotion of improvement in green vehicles for goods delivery in urban areas
(DUM)
f) New DUM microplatforms (Estació del Nord, etc.)
g) Evaluation of alternative urban goods delivery times
h) Improvements in taxi services:
i. Creation of more taxi ranks to increase coverage
ii. Installation of information and communication systems at
taxi ranks and promotion of universal computer applications
iii. Study of new traffic management tools
5. Communication and outreach:
a) Communication plan coordinated with other administrations
6. Monitoring of effects on health:
a) Health surveillance plan coordinated with other administrations
7. Promotion of coordinated activities in the sea transport, industry and corporate
mobility sector
8. Action protocol during high pollution episodes
a) Administrative consolidation of the high pollution episode protocol: Municipal
management order and formal inclusion in the Basic Emergency Plan
Measures in the event of a preventive NO2 warning:
a) Communication of NOx warnings/episodes to the public through internal and
external channels
b) Jointly with other administrations, participation in the HOV-bus lane
implementation protocol on the B-23 and C-21 sud lines
c) Jointly with other administrations, reinforcement of public transport, providing
all the available resources: City bus, metro, intercity bus, tram, FGC, local rail
Measures in the event of an NO2 episode (in addition to the above)
a) Restriction of regulated street parking: extra street parking charges for non-
residents in regulated zones and, in the second instance, depending on the
severity of the pollution, street parking prohibition for non-residents in
regulated zones
b) Support in management, monitoring and control to permit only cleaner
vehicles to be driven in ring road areas
c) In conjunction with other administrations, reduction of public transport fares (T-
episodi ambiental card)
Measures in the event of a preventive PM10 warning.
a) Communication of PM10 warnings/episodes to the public through internal and
external channels:
I. "Episode" message displayed on variable message signs
II. Expansion of use to other VMSs in the city
III. Special warnings in health centres
IV. Special warnings in centres where sensitive persons meet
12b) Activation of awareness campaigns: exhaust control
c) Actions taken with respect to public services (leaf blower regulation) and
construction work:
I. Watering of squares and non-asphalted parks with ground water
II. Prohibition on use of leaf blowers in cleaning tasks
III. Restriction of activities that generate dust during construction work
IV. Stepping up of controls on compliance with building site environmental
plans
V. Increased damp down of streets with ground water
VI. Prohibition on the use of leaf blowers in gardening work
d) In conjunction with other administrations, reduction of public transport fares (T-
episodi ambiental card)
Measures in the event of PM10 episodes (in addition to the above)
a) Prohibition of activities that generate dust during construction work
2.4. BARCELONA METROPOLITAN AREA AND INCLUDED MUNICIPALITIES:
Measures for improving air quality
Without prejudice to the undertakings established in the Political Agreement to Improve Air
Quality in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona, the AMB Metropolitan Council and Council of
Metropolitan Municipalities Against Air Pollution approved the “Metropolitan Programme of
Measures to Prevent Air Pollution” on 31 January 2017. This programme is based on eight
action areas:
1. Low emission zones.
2. Transport mode change incentives: Metropolitan green card
3. Clean mobility measures
4. Measures related to public and private construction projects
5. Measures related to industry (low emissions)
6. Measures to raise awareness and promote environmental education
7. Action protocol during NO2 and PM10 high pollution episodes
8. Measures for inclusion in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area Urban Master Plan
- city model - or for implementation through a special plan.
The metropolitan programme of measures for preventing air pollution is a set of transversal
measures aimed at achieving a considerable reduction in air pollution levels. It has a budget
of €46Mn through to 2019 and will be implemented by AMB via 33 specific actions in the
areas of mobility and the environment, as in many European metropolitan areas, in order to
allow the territory to grow in a sustainable manner and improve the quality of life for the
citizens who live there.
The document focuses on providing a response through structural actions and also includes
an action protocol of ad hoc measures for implementation in the event of high pollution
episodes.
The specific measures of the “Metropolitan Programme of Measures to Prevent Air Pollution”
are set out below:
a) Low emission zones:
Action 1. - Implementation of a Metropolitan Low Emission Zone: ZBEM.
13Action 2. - Implementation of an Urban Low Emission Zone – area inside
the ring roads: ZBEU.
Action 3. - Implementation of Protected-Atmosphere Urban Zones: ZUAP.
b) Transport mode change incentives: Metropolitan green card
Action 4. - Metropolitan green card
c) Clean mobility measures
Area 1. Increase vehicle eco-efficiency
Action 5.- Renew the AMB bus fleet (eliminate diesel vehicles).
Action 6.- Increase the eco-efficiency of taxis and improve operability.
Action 7.- Increase the eco-efficiency of AMB corporate and local government
vehicles.
Action 8.- Programme aid for the purchase of cleaner vehicles.
Action 9.- On a metropolitan scale, coordinate policies to encourage mobility
in cleaner vehicles.
Action 10.- Expand the EV charging station network.
Area 2. Promote cycling
Action 11.- Create a metropolitan cycling network (BICIVIA). Action 12.-
Improve bicycle-related services.
Area 3. Encourage use of public transport
Action 13.- Implement a high-performance metropolitan bus network.
Action 14.- Programme aid for operating speed improvement in public ground
transport services.
Action 15.- Include social and environmental criteria in the public transport
fare system.
Area 4. Parking control
Action 16.- Expand and implement a metropolitan park and ride model.
Action 17.- Coordinate parking control on a metropolitan scale.
Area 5. Occupational mobility
Action 18.- Coordinate urban goods-delivery regulation on a metropolitan
scale.
Action 19.- Encourage sustainable mobility in workplaces.
14Area 6. Planning
Action 20.- Plan medium-term mobility policies through the Metropolitan
Urban Mobility Plan (PMMU).
Area 7. Infrastructure
Action 21.- Request priority transport infrastructure. Transport mode change
incentives.
d) Environmental measures related to public and private construction work.
Action 22.- Good practices guide to prevent air pollution in metropolitan
municipal work.
Action 23.- Reduce emissions in private construction work. Regulatory
provisions to facilitate the application of measures to reduce emissions in
private construction work.
Action 24.- Monitor emissions in construction work.
Action 25.- Establish measures to reduce emissions in construction work.
e) Environmental measures related to industry (low emissions).
Action 26.- Apply a user guide to control low emission generators.
Action 27.- Industry action plans in the metropolitan area.
f) Environmental awareness and environmental education measures
Action 28.- Awareness-raising and education targeted at the general public.
Action 29.- Awareness-raising and education in schools.
Action 30.- Awareness-raising and education targeted at activities related to
undertakings as a partner centre.
g) Action protocol in the event of NO2 and PM10 high pollution episodes.
Actions to take during NO2 high pollution episodes.
PHASE I. Attentive monitoring
Responsibility of AMB
A.1.- Activate protocol phase
A.2.- Activate information and communication campaigns
A.3.- Implement awareness strategy
A.4.- Through the Metropolitan Environmental Assessment Report, control the
application of user guide regulations for low emission generators in industrial
activities.
A.5.- Call on principal activities, public institutions and concession-holders to
set up their own action protocols.
Responsibility of local governments, with the support of AMB
15B.1.- Through the Municipal Metropolitan Environmental Assessment Reports,
apply the user guide regulations for low emission generators in industrial
activities.
B.2.- Call on the authorities to set up their own action protocols for high
pollution episodes.
PHASE II. Preventive warning (in addition to the above)
Responsibility of AMB
A.6.- Implement the awareness strategy by means of messages to target
public during the preventive warning phase.
A.7.- Monitor industries in relation to the application of their action protocols.
A.8.- Reduce vehicle and machinery use in works implemented by AMB and
stop the production and use of asphalt.
Responsibility of local governments, with the support of AMB
B.3.- Expand the bicycle network by converting traffic lanes.
B.4.- Temporary pedestrianisation (easing traffic congestion) on certain roads.
B.5.- Dynamic speed control based on environmental criteria.
B.6.- Improve traffic-light control in order to give priority to public transport.
B.7.- Through the Municipal Environmental Assessment Report, apply the user
guide regulation for low emission generators in industrial activities.
PHASE III. Episode phase (in addition to the above)
Responsibility of AMB
A.9.- Apply discounts on public transport fares (T-episodi ambiental card, ATM
initiative).
A.10.- Step up information and communication campaigns.
A.11.- Coordinate traffic restrictions imposed by local governments in the ring
road area.
A.12.- Cooperate with the Government of Catalonia and municipalities in
enabling additional HOV-bus lanes on some roads used to enter the city.
A.13.- Promote public transport.
A.14.- Restrict the use of taxis.
A.15- Implement the awareness strategy by means of messages to target
public during the episode phase.
A.16.- Call on the responsible agents to monitor potentially harmful activity
emissions.
A.17.- Completely stop all construction work.
Responsibility of local governments, with the support of AMB
16B.7.- Specifically regulate non-resident parking.
B.8.- Change the DUM and Bus Zone time window. This measure must be
agreed on.
B.9.- Completely stop all construction work activities.
PHASE III. Episode and alert phase (in addition to the above)
A.18.- Coordinate extending vehicle restriction criteria to the metropolitan
municipalities as required and in particular within the ring road area (future
ZBE).
A.19.- Implement the awareness strategy by means of messages to target
public during the episode and alert phase.
Actions to take during PM10 high pollution episodes
PHASE II. Preventive warning
Responsibility of AMB
A.1.- Activate the corresponding protocol phase, establishing the necessary
communication, dissemination, monitoring and warning channels with other
administrations (local governments and Directorate General for Air Quality and
Climate Change) and with the industries involved.
A.2.- Activate information and communication campaigns.
A.3.- Reduce driving speed (AMB will coordinate this with the stakeholders
involved and the Catalan Traffic Service).
A.4.- Implement the awareness strategy by means of messages to target
public during the preventive warning phase.
A.5.- Call on public institutions and concession-holders to set up their own
action protocols.
A.6.- Stop all construction work in ZUAPs, depending on work phase,
dimension and activity risk level (AMB guide with measures taken in 2017).
A.7.- Prevent the use of leaf blowers in parks and apply ground water to dusty
areas.
Responsibility of local governments, with the support of AMB
B.1.- Suspend the burning of plant residue and forest, farming and gardening
waste.
B.2.- Restrict asphalting and tarring operations on roads during these periods.
B.3.- Prevention and reduction measures.
B.4.- Prevent the use of leaf blowers in parks and apply ground water to dusty
areas.
PHASE III. Air pollution episodes (in addition to the above)
17In addition to the actions proposed during the preventive warning phase, the following
actions may be included during the episode itself:
Responsibility of AMB
A.8.- Public transport fare discounts through the “T-episodi ambiental card”
(ATM initiative).
A.9.- Step up information and communication campaigns.
A.10.- Implement the awareness strategy by means of messages to target
public during the episode phase (operations in schools, municipal buildings,
dissemination of messages in partner centres, etc.).
A.11.- Coordinate traffic restrictions imposed by local governments (8.00 am to
8.00 pm for private vehicles with no environmental label) in the ring road area
(future ZBEU). Cooperate with the Government of Catalonia or other
administrations in carrying out the activity. The measure will only be applied if
the pollution is caused by human action and not during episodes due to the
entry of dust from the Sahara.
A.12.- Cooperate with the Government of Catalonia and municipalities in
enabling additional HOV-bus lanes on some roads used to enter the city.
A.13.- Promote public transport: increase the ground transport methods for
entering Barcelona with all available means.
A.14.- Restrictions on driving taxis.
A.15.- Completely stop construction activity.
A.16.- Call on the responsible agents to monitor potentially harmful activity
emissions.
A.17.- Stop handling/moving dusty materials out of doors.
Responsibility of local governments, with the support of AMB
B.4.- Specifically regulate non-resident parking.
B.5.- Change the DUM and Bus Zone time window to prevent goods deliveries
and private coaches for tourists during peak pollution hours (7.00 am and
10.00 am). This measure must be agreed on with local governments and the
sector.
h) Measures for inclusion in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area Urban Master Plan - city
model.
i) Communication.
The implementation of the programme will be accompanied by a special
communication campaign highlighting the actions and motivating their deployment.
The campaign will pay special attention to the environmental issues of transport,
industry and other activities that generate pollution. The campaign will be prepared in
conjunction with the AMB environment, mobility and transport area.
j) Prediction, control and evaluation tools.
Action 31.- Air quality forecast model.
18Action 32.- Characterisation of vehicle emissions in Barcelona city and metropolitan
area.
Action 33.- Metropolitan urban mobility plan evaluation model in relation to air quality in
the Barcelona metropolitan area.
2.5. BARCELONA PROVINCIAL COUNCIL:
a) Cooperate with the Government of Catalonia in making headway on a basis of
consensus and coordination in relation to studying the causes that affect air quality
throughout the territory and in each municipality.
b) Make available to supramunicipal and local administrations the meeting point and
technical coordination of the Network of Cities and Towns in Favour of Sustainability
– Task Force + Air-Noise, as a transversal group which includes municipal
technicians with expertise in the areas of mobility, the environment and health; and as
an information point for all local entities in agreements with the Government of
Catalonia coordination and monitoring board.
c) Provide support to municipalities within Barcelona province, including municipalities
from Àmbit-40 and its hinterland, in establishing policies to improve air quality and
promote sustainable mobility and environmental health. In particular:
I. Support in preparing studies and local plans for air quality improvement.
II. Support in renewing municipal vehicles and making them electric.
III. Support in promoting sustainable mobility, drafting urban mobility
plans, implementing ZUAPs, corporate mobility plans and school
routes.
IV. Support non-motorised mobility on the part of administrations, for the
most part by bicycle or on foot (public bicycle network, safe parking,
cycling routes,...).
d) Coordinate common resources to raise awareness and provide environmental
education, offering support to local entities in this area in order to inform the public
and raise awareness about air pollution and its harmful effects on health, both in
pollution episodes and in a structural manner, in conjunction with the Government of
Catalonia.
e) Provide support during Sustainable Mobility Week on actions related to air quality
improvement.
f) Prepare and obtain municipal and tax legislation models.
g) Prepare and obtain internal municipal protocols for the application of this agreement.
h) Draft the mobility and travel plan for Barcelona Provincial Council staff.
i) Promote training for municipal technicians in sustainable mobility and air quality, and
in particular actions related to corporate mobility plans.
192.6. MUNICIPALITIES IN THE ÀMBIT- 40 HINTERLAND:
Since a large part of the journeys made in the Àmbit-40 zone originate in municipalities
outside this area, apart from the agreements assumed by the AMB, they undertake to:
a) Report high pollution episodes and their effects on health in order to reduce travel in
private vehicles to the special protection zone.
b) Report on the mobility measures taken in the Àmbit-40 area that affect citizens
travelling to the Barcelona metropolitan area.
c) Reinforce urban transport services to railways, as required, considering, for example,
other issues such as the location of park and ride car parks.
d) Keep express bus lanes free and reinforce checks by municipal police, particularly
during high pollution episodes.
e) Organise awareness campaigns and mobility recommendations to the public in the
event of high pollution episodes.
3. BARCELONA PORT AUTHORITY:
a) Promote the rapid implementation of alternative fuels for the transport of goods by
sea and by road, and in particular, natural gas, by providing supply infrastructure and
running pilot and test projects.
b) Study the feasibility of electrical connection from the wharves for ships moored in
certain docks.
c) Implement a new ship discounts system that promotes environmental behaviour
improvement and attracts cleaner ships.
d) Gradually make own vehicles electric and promote the electrification of transport and
staff vehicles of companies operating in the port area.
e) Promote the electrification or gasification, as applicable, of port terminal machinery
(off-road vehicles).
f) Continue to promote the transfer of loads from trucks to railways and short sea
shipping by building and improving railway infrastructure, attracting new railway
operators and consolidating and improving short sea shipping services.
g) Promote the adoption of sustainable mobility criteria in the port area and in
companies operating in the port.
h) In the event of high pollution episodes declared by the Government of Catalonia,
Barcelona Port Authority will take the following actions:
20In the event of preventive NO2/PM10 pollution warnings:
• Impose speed limits on ships approaching and entering the port.
• Ban machinery testing and maintenance work on ships to prevent the start-up of
engines.
• Impose speed limits on vehicles driving inside the port area.
• Ask truck drivers to switch off their engines in the event of hold-ups or long waits
to enter the terminals.
In the event of NO2/PM10 pollution episode warnings:
• Restrict the mooring of ships containing bulk liquids, container vessels and other
goods vessels in zone II that are not attached to moorings.
• Reduce machinery preparation time before leaving port for all vessels moored
there.
• Communicate the situation to all Barcelona Port Authority workers and companies
operating in the port and promote and recommend the use of collective public
transport or carpooling.
• Increase the washing and damping down of roads.
ANNEX II. REQUESTS SUBMITTED TO THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT
Lastly, to achieve the air quality improvement objectives we have set, we call on the State to:
a) Review the special tax on fuels for passenger cars to stop promoting the purchase of
diesel vehicles.
b) Change the vehicle registration tax to encourage the purchase of vehicles that
generate less pollution.
c) Apply HOV and ECO discounts on vehicles generating fewer emissions, depending on
the DGT eco-label, at toll stations operated by the State at the entrance to the Àmbit-
40 area.
d) Put out calls for financial aid in changing from vehicles that generate pollution to low-
emission vehicles, whilst also taking into account social criteria.
e) Carry out the necessary formalities at State and Community level to apply the reduced
VAT rate of 4% on the purchase of electric vehicles for a period of five years.
f) Promote the following legal changes in relation to charging electric vehicles in order to:
• Simplify the charge manager figure and make it easier for companies and
public administrations to provide charging stations, so long as this is done free
of charge.
21• Reduce the fixed costs of the electricity system for strategic fast-charge
infrastructure until electric mobility reaches the necessary volume to permit
the feasibility of business models linked to this mode.
• Make it possible for municipalities to be able to apply discounts of up of 100%
on mechanical traction vehicle taxes for electric vehicles.
• Establish that all new residential buildings include in their construction the
necessary infrastructure to allow 100% of parking spaces to implement a
slow-charge system.
• Establish tax deductions for works to adapt car parks in residential buildings
and allow the implementation of slow-charge systems.
• Establish that by no later than 2020, 5% of all public parking spaces will be
equipped with normal charge infrastructure. This objective must also be
implemented in indoor and outdoor car parks in shopping centres.
• Establish that by no later than 2020, 3% of public municipal parking spaces
and street parking spaces will be equipped with normal charge infrastructure
in municipalities with over 20,000 inhabitants, in the locations established in
the urban mobility plan or the municipal urban plan.
• Set up a stable, uninterrupted plan of financial aid for the purchase of electric
vehicles up to 2020, with an annual allocation of at least €20Mn.
• These percentages will be reviewed in 2020, depending on the degree of
penetration of the electric vehicle with respect to vehicles in circulation.
g) Increase public transport funding in accordance with the equalisation of the integrated
services area with the financed services area. This would mean increasing the €98Mn
of 2016 to €108Mn in 2017 and €148Mn as of 2018.
h) Enable bus lanes through the transfer of the B-23 to the Government of Catalonia,
with funding for the construction of the bus lane.
i) Implement local and regional railway infrastructure improvement plans to bring about
an improvement in local and regional train services in terms of frequency, operating
speed, information and service quality, which will drastically reduce current service
inefficiencies and unreliability.
j) Prioritise railway investments agreed within the framework of the Strategic Board for
the Mediterranean Corridor, thus permitting actions related to infrastructure and the
promotion of improvements in goods services, which, like the railway corridor and the
implementation and connection of new intermodal terminals, will make the change
from the carriage of goods from road to rail a reality.
k) Change the consolidated text of the Traffic, Driving of Motor Vehicles and Road Safety
Act through the creation of the categorisation of a specific offence for breach of special
legislative measures on driving for environmental reasons that could be considered
serious or very serious.
22l) Change Article 37 of the General Regulation on Driving, Special Traffic Ordinance for
Reasons of Safety or Calming of Traffic in the sense of providing for the possibility of
establishing traffic control measures for environmental reasons.
m) Complete the vehicle eco-labelling initiative of the Directorate General for Traffic with
eco-labels for non-electric motorbikes and mopeds (the only ones that have them at
present).
n) Regulate eco-labels reporting vehicle emission levels through a royal decree in order
to provide maximum outreach and legal certainty.
o) Create and allocate an economic fund to finance the implementation of the regional,
municipal and urban plans.
Barcelona, 6 March 2017.
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