Air quality effectiveness of traffic management schemes: U.K. and European case studies

Abstract

This paper examines air quality changes that can arise from implementing specific traffic management schemes, based on the findings of current and past impact assessments. Air quality changes arising from pedestrianisation, traffic rerouting, traffic calming, and bus priority routes are outlined. Case studies are presented where air quality was measured before and after the implementation of a scheme in order to assess how effective traffic management can be in reducing ambient traffic-related pollutant levels. Limitations of past and current studies are highlighted. The need for more monitoring studies, and the need for data from those studies to be used to test and validate a range of suitable numerical models, is emphasised.