Title of Example

Example

Overview

A programme of air quality monitoring and modelling carried out in Birmingham over a number of years has indicated that the objective level for nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) will be exceeded in parts of the City in 2005 when the objective level comes into effect. These parts of the City include one area adjacent to a motorway, two congested major roads, and the City Centre. This has led to the entire City being declared an Air Quality Management Area.

An air quality action plan has been developed to identify measures to reduce the levels of NO₂. The first step in developing the action plan was to identify the contributions made by the various sources of NO₂. This is shown in figure 1 below.

\s Figure 1 – Sources of NO2 in Birmingham

This then led to the development of an action plan based around seven themes;

Reducing vehicle emissions

This theme is involves reducing the amount of NO₂ emitted by each vehicle using the roads in Birmingham. Actions under this theme include carrying out roadside checks on vehicle emissions from private vehicles. This checks that vehicles are being properly maintained and are not emitting more NO2 than they are legally permitted to emit.

Improving public transport to reduce traffic volumes

This is a very general theme. Clearly improvements to public transport are likely to increase the usage of Public Transport, and therefore reduce road traffic. The City has a programme of expansion and improvement of Public Transport. This programme includes extensions and improvements to bus routes, the expansion of a light rail system across the City and an increase in the capacity of heavy rail systems.

Improving the road network to reduce congestion

The areas of exceedence for NO2 in the City are typically located adjacent to heavily congested roads.

It is often the slow moving traffic stopping and starting that results in the elevated levels of NO2. In some cases improvements to the road network can improve air quality simply by keeping road traffic moving at a steady speed. The City has introduced ‘red routes’ which are roads on which no vehicle is permitted to stop in order to reduce congestion. In addition ‘active traffic management’ is being introduced on the City’s motorways. Active traffic management involves separate variable speed limits for each lane of a motorway. These limits are varied to ensure that the traffic moves steadily instead of stopping and starting.

Other improvements to the road network include the construction of a new Toll Road to relieve congestion on the motorway network, and the construction of a small bypass to relieve congestion on one of the main roads into the City.

Using Area Planning Measures to Reduce Traffic Volumes

Area planning measures are being used to reduce road traffic and therefore reduce levels of NO2. This is done mainly by encouraging residential developments in the City Centre, and by limiting the number of parking places available in the City Centre.

Reducing Air Pollution from Industry / Commerce and Residential areas

The source apportionment in Figure 1 shows that 26% of the NO2 is emitted from industry, commerce and residential areas. The municipal authority has a programme to support energy efficiency measures in domestic premises. This is part of a programme to reduce energy usage across the City. Other programmes exist to ensure that emissions of NO₂ from industry are kept within the legal limits.

Changing levels of travel demand / promotion of alternative modes of transport

Measures have been introduced to reduce the level of demand for road transport, and therefore reduce levels of NO₂. These include schemes to create safe routes for walking and cycling. In addition there is a programme to develop park and ride facilities with on new strategic park and ride site being opened every 2 years.

Impact of the Measures to Reduce NO₂

Many of the measures to reduce levels of NO2 are general in nature, and will take a long time to have an effect. In addition there is forecast to be an increase in the level of demand for travel in the City in the coming years. Therefore the reductions in NO2 achieved by the action plan are likely to be offset by increased traffic. As a consequence, whilst the measures will reduce levels of NO2, the objective levels are unlikely to be achieved.

Additional measures such as the introduction of charges to take road vehicles into the City Centre may be needed to achieve the levels of traffic reduction needed to reach the objective level for NO2. However, these types of measures can only be introduced once the public transport infrastructure is able to deal with increased demand, the economic objections can be overcome and public support for such a scheme can be achieved.

Last Updated

13th January 2005