The influence of potential policy measures on the eco-efficiency of personal vehicle mobility in Brussels

Abstract

This paper on the eco-efficiency of personal vehicle mobility in Brussels is from the proceedings of 14th international Conference on Urban Transport and the Environment in the 21st Century, which was held in Malta in 2008. The authors consider the influence of potential policy measures on the eco-efficiency of personal vehicle mobility, noting that urban areas such as the Brussels Capital Region (BCR) are facing air quality issues, due to a dense road network, a high degree of motorization, and a large influx of commuters entering the city daily. The authors then outline several possible policy measures that could be implemented by the Brussels Regional Government to influence the characteristics or intensity of urban traffic as well as its impact on the environment. These measures include a reorientation of the fiscal system for vehicles (registration and circulation tax), applying a road or congestion charge, variable parking fees, and other strategies. The Brussels Regional Government has commissioned a study to investigate the effects of these different policy measures on the traffic intensity in the city, as well as on the environment and the eco-efficiency of the vehicle fleet. The study will include costs and purchasing behavior as well as how the use of vehicles could evolve. The authors briefly describe how the Ecoscore, an environmental indicator for vehicles, is applied as a tool for policy support.