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Abstract - Plan of Action Air Quality The Hague
2004-2010
The abstract is based upon the air quality plan in
Dutch of the City of The Hague.
(Plan van Aanpak
luchtkwaliteit Den Haag)
In The Hague 2010 thresholds for PM10 and NO2 are exceeded
on a number of places. The exceedances of PM10 are
mainly caused by sources outside the City and are dealt with on National Level.
The plan of action therefore focuses on the reduction of NO2, as far as it is
within the competence of the City Council. For sources outside the competence
of the City Council, plans are made on the regional level and/or National
Level.
In The Hague, the
traffic is the main source of air pollution. Beside road traffic, there are
other sources of NO2 emissions, such as the emissions coming from ships
entering and leaving the Scheveningen harbour. These
other sources are outside the sphere of influence of the City Council but
emissions from ships in the Scheveningen harbour are
relatively low.
Seen from the perspective of health and traffic
congestion, streets belonging to the so called “parking route” are the heaviest
burden and exceedances occur on the following roads: Stille Veerkade, the Paviljoensgracht and the Luthers Burgwal. When the so called “Centrum ring road“ will be finished, it is likely that traffic will increase
and exceedances will be found on other roads, like
the Neherkade.
Measurements to reduce air pollution can be defined into 2
categories:
1. Specific
actions with tailor made solutions;
2. Generic
actions aimed at reducing mobility in the city and combating congestion in the
region.
For the roads in the “Parking route”, the following
measurements are proposed:
· 25%
reduction of the traffic intensity;
· Improving
the traffic flow; and
· Reducing the
number of (heavy polluting diesel) non public transport network buses
travelling though these streets.
The question as if limit values can be fulfilled by 2010
is strongly dependent on future traffic developments and new roads to be built.
Therefore the City took the decision to closely monitor the traffic flows and
air quality. The information collected will be used as a basis to develop
specific solutions and not only for the most challenging situations calculated
by the air quality model. Short-term measurements such as adjusting traffic
regulation lights are taken.
For highways the region of Haaglanden
advocated to reduce the maximum speed limit to 80 km/h. The bureau TNO
calculated that diverting freighters to the Northern route might reduce the air
quality burden in the inner city, while not creating an air quality problem on
the Northern route. However, it will not help to ease the burden on the road
called Utrechtse baan.
Beside these specific actions, general actions should be
foreseen:
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Actions such as changing the mentality for reducing
the need of motor vehicles, the stimulation of environmental aware driving and
higher parking tariffs;
These actions call for close cooperation between all
stakeholders of the community.
In designing and redeveloping the city or parts of the
city, air quality should be an issue to be considered in an integrated manner.
At this stage it is not yet the case.
Air quality is closely connected to the climate change
policy. The two issues should come together in the Advisory Commission for
Sustainability. For the implementation of the plan, various potential funding
opportunities have been identified. The central government already agreed to
give some financial back-up for some actions.
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