The Paris City Hall establishes a restricted traffic zone in the city center starting on Monday.

## Paris Creates Limited Traffic Zone in City Center

The Paris City Hall has issued an order on October 31 establishing a limited traffic zone (ZTL) in the heart of Paris, prohibiting the circulation of vehicles that are only passing through the first four districts of the capital. This measure, effective starting Monday, was specified by David Belliard, the green deputy in charge of transportation for the Paris City Hall. The approximately 5.5 km2 zone will only be accessible to emergency vehicles, buses, taxis, people with reduced mobility, residents, workers, and all traffic with a specific destination within the area.

## Implementation of ZTL and Negotiations

The creation of the ZTL, delayed several times, is a campaign promise of the socialist mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, aimed at reclaiming public space occupied by cars and reducing pollution, in line with other major European cities like Madrid, Milan, and Rome. The perimeter of the zone has undergone negotiations with the police prefecture since the announcement of the project in May 2021. Initially, the left bank neighborhoods and certain areas on the right bank were included but later removed from the approved perimeter.

## Access Conditions and Control Measures

Various transport and logistics organizations in the Ile-de-France region have sought clarifications from the city regarding access conditions and required documentation. The specific control measures and the list of valid documents for circulation within the limited traffic zone will be determined by a joint order between the mayor of Paris and the police prefecture. The implementation will involve an initial educational phase, followed by enforcement and potential fines, utilizing resident cards and online self-declarations.

## Impact and Expectations

The implementation of the ZTL is expected to significantly reduce traffic volume on major roads, with anticipated decreases of -30% on Avenue de l’Opéra and -15% on Boulevard de Sébastopol, according to the City Hall’s impact assessment. Additionally, noise reduction and air quality improvement are expected, with reductions of nitrogen dioxide concentrations by -15% on Avenue de l’Opéra and Boulevard Henri IV, and -10% on Boulevard de Sébastopol. Opposition voices, like Maud Gatel from the MoDem party, express concerns about the potential impact on commercial and cultural vibrancy, labeling the ZTL as potentially discouraging visitors due to perceived limitations on access control.