Objective
The EMRECU (Effects of Realised Traffic Measures on the Reduction of Energy Consumption in Urban transport) project should contribute:
- to the reduction of energy consumption in urban transport
- to the increase of the level of sustainability of urban transport
The general objectives are:
- to find clear quantitative and qualitative indicators for the effects of traffic organisation, traffic planning and city planning on energy consumption in urban transport
- to identify the planning and organisational measures and their combinations that are most efficient in minimising transport energy demand
- to provide cities an instrument to assess which measures are the most appropriate and effective in reducing energy consumption in the traffic system using existing traffic data
Following areas will be analysed:
- parking management and parking policy
- pedestrianisation
- promotion of cycling
- public transport policies
- landuse planning
With the aim to reduce energy consumption and CO2-emissions of transport, some cities have started to realise integrated planning and organisational measures according to the sustainability principles. The effects of these measures are studied in depth within this EMRECU (Effects of realised traffic Measures on the Reduction of Energy Consumption in Urban transport) project to find clear quantitative and qualitative indicators for transport energy demand minimising traffic organisation, traffic planning and city planning. World-wide there are very few cases where appropriate data are available, allowing a proper before and after analysis to quantify the energy related effects of measures.
Such data are available or will be gathered respectively for the cities of Vienna (Austria) and Helsinki (Finland) - the capitals of two EC-member countries - as well as for the cities of Saarbrücken (Germany), Schlanders (Italy), Eisenstadt and St.Veit (Austria).
Following items and their effects on energy consumption will be analysed:
i. Parking management and parking policy
Because of its fundamental influence on modal split and traffic behaviour, parking is a key element for energy savings in the transportation system.
Following measures are analysed within this study:
- Parking facilities
- Parking organisation
ii. Public transport priorities
Giving priority to public transport has effects on modal split and so also on energy savings.
Following measures are analysed within this study:
- underground extensions
- separated lanes for busses and trams
- public transport activated signals
- improved accessibility of public transport stops
- introduction of 'city taxi' (a new paratransit system)
iii. Pedestrianisation
The introduction of pedestrian areas in the cities of Vienna, St.Veit Eisenstadt (largest pedestrianised area per capita in Austria) and Schlanders showed substantial effects on modal split. To study its effects on energy consumption, mobility data have to be gathered and analysed in regard to changes of mobility patterns.
iv. Promotion of cycling
The introduction and steady improvement of cycletracks lead to increased acceptance of cycling. Elasticities in the traffic system are to be studied and analysed.
v. Landuse planning
The effects of landuse planning measures are tremendous compared with those of public transport, pedestrian, cyclist and parking measures. Data about mobility patterns have to be analysed for different landuse plans and in relation to the accessibility of different traffic modes.
Work programme:
- before and after analysis with a calculation of effects of the measures mentioned above on modal split, trip lengths distribution and trip time distribution,
- calculation of effects of single measures and of synergetic effects of combined measures,
- development of indicators for the estimation and calculation of energy saving potentials of cities on the basis of general available information about structure and traffic system of the cities.
The combination of this analysis with existing data available for most of the EC-member countries should enable cities to assess which specific measures are the most appropriate and effective in reducing energy consumption in the traffic system.
In October 1996 an interim report has been sent to the European Commission, DG XVII. It comprises the results of the data collection, describes the analysing methodology, gives first qualitative estimations and provides an outlook on the future work.
Programme(s)
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
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1040 Vienna
Austria