Transportation planning

Athens' 45-year-old road space rationing system (daktylios), which limits entry to the center based on whether license plates end with an odd or even number, is now seen as a major contributor to the city's worsening traffic congestion, with experts calling for a comprehensive review. 

Traffic restrictions aimed at reducing congestion and pollution in downtown Athens will resume on Monday after the summer break. The "daktylios" system limits entry based on license plate numbers: Cars with even-numbered plates can enter on even days, while odd-numbered plates are allowed in on odd days.

Proposed amendments to Bulgaria's Roads Act are set to introduce higher tolls for polluting vehicles, marking a significant shift in the country's road usage fees. The changes, currently undergoing public consultation, aim to factor in both the EURO emission class and CO2 emission class of vehicles when determining toll rates.

"We often find ourselves entering a store and waiting awkwardly at the entrance for an extended period because no one approaches or addresses us to explain, for instance, that they will serve us shortly.

Traffic congestion on Venti Street has now been restored

Today marks the end of an "era" for Sofia's low-emission zone, which ceases to operate after being introduced on December 1 last year. The zone, encompassing the central area of the city known as the "small ring," covered key thoroughfares such as "Vasil Levski" and "Patriarch Evtimii" boulevards, along with streets like "Gen. Skobelev," "Oplchenska," and "Slivnitsa" boulevard.

The concept of "congestion charging," in which vehicles entering areas with heavy traffic are charged a fee, has recently been gaining traction as a potential solution to simultaneously alleviate traffic congestion and mitigate air pollution.

In a bid to address the traffic congestion problem in Istanbul, the municipality is preparing to impose a fee on vehicles entering the busiest areas of the city, as the pilot implementation is set to commence in Eminönü.

Sofia Municipality has initiated a Low-emission Zone (LEZ) within the city's downtown area, effective until February 29, 2024, as announced by the municipality's press center. Encompassing the small ring, the zone includes key thoroughfares like Vasil Levski, Patriarch Evtimiy, and Slivnitsa boulevards, as well as Gen. Skobelev and Opalchenska streets. Read more about the zone borders here.

Sofia is set to implement a Low-Emission Zone (LEZ) from December 1, 2023, to February 29, 2024, within the city's central ring. The LEZ aims to tackle air quality issues, mandated by a court decision and the previous municipal council.