Riga to introduce entry fee during peak hours in the city’s low-emission zone

It is no news that one the biggest current issues around the globe is air pollution. It affects our health and the overall quality of life. Cities around the world are approaching this problem very seriously and are in constant search of new ways of tackling this situation.

At the end of 2021, Riga arranged a feasibility study and development of an action plan for the implementation of a low-emission zone in Riga the city by the auditing company PricewaterhouseCoopers which is expected to be completed by July 2023.

The City’s idea is to introduce a fee during peak hours in the city’s low-emission zone, with a goal of providing cleaner air, but also to encourage people to use more the public transport.

“We have to look at a change in everyday habits as a whole. And how we move individually,” stated Inese Andersone, chair of the City Development Committee of Riga City Council.

It is planned that the low emissions zone would cover the whole historic center between the railway and the Daugava where air pollution currently exceeds the norms set by both Latvia and the European Union.

The city tends to gradually implement this project by 2027. It is estimated that it will reduce the car traffic by 20%, meaning there would be less congestion and more fresh air.

There are many European cities which have already implemented such entry fee like London, Paris and Berlin. (photo credit: Flickr)