Effective Air Quality Strategy in Oxford

Transcription

1 Effective Air Quality Strategy in Oxford Roger Pitman BSc(Hons); M(Med)Sci Oxford City Council

2 The Oxford Times Thursday 26 th March 2009 Oxford set to be declared Low Emission Zone Dirty Buses facing ban from centre Oxford city centre will be declared a Low Emission Zone on Wednesday in a radical plan to combat worsening air pollution problems in the city. It will mean only buses meeting strict European standards will be able to operate in central Oxford, in a move to improve air quality..but the tough restrictions will only apply to buses and coaches and not to lorries, vans or other vehicles as many people had hoped.

3 AQMA s declared 2001, 2003, 2005 AQAP 2006 LEZ 2009 Declaration The Oxford Tortoise got there eventually!!

4 Key factor: Having the debate in public

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6 Entrenched viewpoints? I am becoming increasingly frustrated at organisations that spread scare stories about air quality. Let me make this clear, once and for all. There is no significant air pollution problem in Oxford

7 Local media headlines 26 th February 1998 Oxford Transport Strategy: Holding our breath for the way ahead

8 Cornmarket pedestrian zone pre-ots

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11 Brief overview of some key stages in the process City AQ Management Joint work County Transport Planning Stages 1-4 Review & Assessment EMITS Oxford Transport Strategy Improve environment in city centre, by enhanced bus provision, extend park &ride Declare single AQMA s ? OTS

12 Aims of OTS To achieve the environmental enhancement of the City Centre To reduce the number of car trips into and through the City centre The removal of all vehicles from certain shopping streets throughout working day Give higher priority to alternatives to the car

13 Oxford Transport Strategy An opportunity for change

14 Central Oxford the focus of the Oxford Transport Strategy measures

15 Key factor: Understand the background to the local transport strategy

16 The coloured 1km grid squares indicate whether traffic emissions increased or decreased after OTS Impacts of OTS

17 Key factor: Establish a proven capability

18 Key factors: Making strategic links to transport policy Demonstrating that air quality assessment can provide key insights into the local transport debate Understanding the local climate

19 Brief overview of some key stages in the process City AQ Management Joint work County Transport Planning Stages 1-4 Review & Assessment Declare single AQMA s EMITS City-County members Breath of Fresh Air Nov Oxford Transport Strategy Improve environment in city centre, by enhanced bus provision, extend park &ride Oxford Transport Strategy Create bus priority route, encourage modal shift to bus, pedestrianise Cornmarket, High St Bus Gate. No further measures needed?

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21 Local media headlines

22 Even Mr Bean has his say..

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25 by Mark Templeton BUNGLING BBC Staff may come back to Oxford for a THIRD time to film the city s transport system in action after bosses admitted getting it wrong again. The maker s of BBC2 s Top Gear were carpeted earlier in the year and ordered to return to Oxford to make another show after the first programme was branded unfair and innacurate by BBC bosses.

26 Some local headlines on the way 17/6/2003 City s air quality still poor 27/8/2004 Oxford tops UK Pollution league-the big smoke

27 Air quality management no go area! Stage4 Review with revised AQMA (July 2003) D-Day October 2004 A breath of Fresh Air November 2004

28 Some more local headlines..continued local differences of opinion 8/11/2004 Breath Away Buses hold key to pollution 12/11/2004 Report highlights poor state of city centre air 8/12/2004 Stalemate on fumes menace. Where do we go from here? City s pollution strategy comes to a halt after county stalls on 15-point plan it helped to draft 12/1/2005 Pollution confusion fresh call for independent review into city s exhaust fume levels 11/2/2005 I am becoming increasingly frustrated at organisations that spread scare stories about air quality. Let me make this clear, once and for all. There is no significant air pollution problem in Oxford 8/7/2005 Unfulfilled vision (leader Oxford Times)

29 A Breath of Fresh Air Involved Local Politicians of City & County Assess the impact of current transport policies on air quality Consider the levels of integrated approach KEY OUTCOME : Established the precedent for joint City-County working to develop measures outlined within the AQAP

30 A Breath of Fresh Air Recommended that: further action was required within the LTP in order to improve air quality, over and above measures already determined LTP to have AQ targets Establish joint mechanism between City and County for developing further measures as outlined in AQAP

31 Key factor: Ownership of the process by local politicians

32 Brief overview of some key stages in the process City AQ Management Joint work County Transport Planning Stages 1-4 Review & Assessment Declare single AQMA s City EMITS City-County members Breath of Fresh Air Nov 2004 Media County City - County Officers develop AQAP 2006 April 2006 AQAP adopted LEZ Feasibility study agreed under City- County Steering Group Oxford Transport Strategy Improve environment in city centre, by enhanced bus provision, extend park &ride Oxford Transport Strategy Create bus priority route, encourage modal shift to bus, pedestrianise Cornmarket, High St Bus Gate LTP with joint AQAP including air quality targets and objectives New LTP.??

33 Key factor Integration means integration

34 2006 New beginning AQAP fully integrated in LTP, with AQ targets Joint City-County Steering Group established Feasibility study programme outlined for the consideration of a LEZ in central Oxford

35 AQ Targets within LTP AQAP sets target for required reductions in traffic NOx emissions in order to meet AQ objectives for nitrogen dioxide Traffic generated NOx emissions in the AQMA need to reduce by an average of 68% to meet the air quality objective for nitrogen dioxide Targets derived from County Saturn Traffic Model highlighted differences between streets dominated by bus traffic and those which did not, highlighting the relative impact of buses. The targets and methods of assessment agreed with County Transport Planning officers. Key factor was to establish baselines and targets using existing traffic models, then estimate whether future transport plans can deliver the required emissions reductions.

36 AQ Targets within Oxford LTP The NO 2 AQ mean objective is 40ug/m 3 LTP baseline for Air Quality: Annual mean NO 2 at St Aldate s is 64ug/m 3 (avg ) LTP Air Quality target for central AQMA: Predicted NO 2 annual mean of 53ug/m 3 to 2011 An 11ug/m 3 reduction consists of: A 20% reduction in traffic emissions from LTP measures, will result in 6ug/m 3 reduction Newer vehicles will result in a further 3ug/m 3 reduction Background will reduce by 2ug/m 3

37 AQ Targets within Oxford LTP The LTP measures for improving AQ to 2011 are based upon: Bus gate enforcement B Q Partnership - 80% of City buses and all HGV s achieving Euro 3 engine standard by 2011 Baseline models allow for forward prediction of existing policies against established targets It is estimated that these measures may result in a 20% reduction in NOx emissions in the AQMA Thus additional measures are required to reduce traffic emissions in the AQMA to achieve the AQ objective

38 Background to the LEZ feasibility study Air Quality Target now established as a shared priority in Local Transport Plan (alongside congestion, road safety, accessibility, streetscape) Air Quality Action Plan highlighted need for further measures to improve air quality A Low Emission Zone was identified as the measure with the greatest potential to improve air quality

39 LEZ feasibility study Steering Group Members County Council: Cabinet Member for Transport Head of Transport Transport Planning Officers City Council: Portfolio Holder for Cleaner City Head of Environmental Health Air Quality Management Officers Consultants by invitation: AEA Technology; TTR

40 LEZ feasibility study - Approach to Assessment The impact of future measures requires a wider assessment than a single pollutant Government Policy supports an integrated system of impact assessment and appraisal tools, in support of sustainable development The final assessment of the Oxford LEZ will include: Feasibility and Cost benefit assessment Health & Environmental Impact Assessment Climate change impacts

41 LEZ feasibility study A detailed study carried out in distinct phases Inception & Scoping - Stage 1 (Feb 07) Detailed Assessment - Stage 2 (Dec 08) Final Assessment - Stage 3 (June 09)

42 Stage1- LEZ feasibility study Considered: Baseline traffic emissions LEZ implementation options LEZ emission standards

43 Stage 1 Using existing baseline data to:- Define baseline emissions using existing models Consider LEZ implementation options: Voluntary / TRC/ TRO or other Potential emissions criteria for the zone that define an emission standard and compliance date The potential emissions benefits, scheme costs, operator costs and overall cost-effectiveness of achieving the emissions criteria by different strategies

44 Stage1- LEZ feasibility study Concluded it is most feasible and cost-effective to : Set emission standards for buses and coaches A Euro 3 standard for all relevant vehicles by 2008 A Euro 4 standard for all relevant vehicles by 2011 Consider implementation options for a Traffic Regulation Condition (TRC) Requires: Consultations over future bus fleet renewal programmes Development of detailed emissions inventories

45 Stage 1 Questions arising hat are the environmental objectives (standards and achievement dates) of the strategy? hat measures affecting which classes of vehicle are possible during this time? hat are the options for the geographical extent of measures? hat is the effectiveness of measures (including emissions reduction potential or trade off between pollutants e.g. primary NO2 issues)? hat are the legal or regulatory options for implementing and enforcing the measures? hat are the set-up and operating costs?

46 Outcomes of Oxford LEZ Stage 1 Consultations Revisions to the fleet profiles shown in the Stage 1 report suggest: The majority of the Oxford commercial and tendered services could be equivalent Euro V standard for PM10 during 2008 Euro V standard vehicles are available now and, with few exceptions, these will replace existing vehicles from now onwards

47 Stage 2 of the LEZ feasibility study will involve:- Defining emission standards (Euro4, Euro5) Define pollutant (Nitrogen Dioxide, Particulate Matter) one of these or both? Considering London LEZ standards (inc application to wider vehicle classes at later dates) Defining classes of vehicle (3 main bus operators, all bus operators, all bus and coach operators, buses coaches and HGV s, LGV s, Taxis and Cars)? Defining timescales for introduction Consultation on voluntary approach (adoption of LEZ standards, to 3 main bus companies) Consideration of different approaches (applying an emission standard, in addition to Voluntary / TRC approach, including..) - Quality Bus Partnership Agreement (QBPA) - Quality Partnership Scheme (QPS) - TRO-Traffic Regulation Order for other vehicle types

48 LEZ - Integrated Decision making Final decisions were made both in the City Council and the County Council City Council Declare LEZ standard (Achieve Euro5 by 31/12/2013) Joint working with the County council on development of an integrated package of transport and bus quality improvements in Oxford County Council Support LEZ standard as above Proposals for LEZ to be are progressed as part of an integrated package of transport and bus quality improvements in Oxford Agree timetable for BQPS by 30/9/2009 Develop options for TRC to meet LEZ standards TRC will be introduced unless a BQPS has been implemented first

49 Oxford LEZ - key lessons Integrated approach AQAP targets into current LTP Established joint steering group with both councils Involved lead politicians and officers Considered wide set of options for LEZ Consulted main bus and coach operators Implementation aided by new options for partnership schemes under Local Transport Act Flexible implementation approach involving option of negotiated BQPS or TRC if required

50 Oxford LEZ Discussions are ongoing with the bus operators, in relation to the implementation of the scheme Full details of the scheme including feasibility study assessments cannot be released at this stage