APCOM

A daily 30 per cent decrease in the particulates present in the environment (PM10), a 10 per cent reduction of the vehicles entering the city centre (Cerchia dei Bastioni) and an increase in the use of public trasport. With these objectives, the Mayor of Milan Letizia Moratti launched the "Ecopass", the congestion charge drivers must pay to enter the center of the city. Electric and hybrid cars are allowed to enter the congestion charge zone without payment.

"Ecopass - explains the City Hall of Milan - is an experimental project, part of that intervention plan tailored by the Council itself and aimed at improving sustainable mobility and earth friendly policies and at safeguarding citizen's health".

The price of the ticket depends on the vehicle and those who fail to pay the charge will face a fine of at least 70 euros. Money raised will be invested in improving public transport, cycle paths and green vehicles. For Mrs Moratti the initiative places Milan at the forefront of the fight against pollution, alongside those other cities which have already adopted similar measures.

Among these is London which introduced a congestion charge in february 2003: although not the first scheme of its kind in Great Britain, it remains one of the largest in the whole world. According to the latest reviews the measure - which entails a payment of 8 pounds each day a chargeable vehicle enters or travels within zone between 7 am and 6 pm - has reduced traffic levels in the area and has cut carbon dioxide emissions by almost a fifth. In particular, according to a review by Transport of London which is responsible for the charge, the number of vehicles entering the central zone has dropped by 60 thousand units. It's latest report, dating back to June 2007, found out moreover that the level of traffic of all vehicle types entering the central congestion charge zone was 16 per cent lower in 2006 than the pre-charge levels in 2002.

After introducing the scheme, the twice elected Mayor of London Ken Livinsgtone extended the congestion charge area, which now includes Kensington and Chelsea.

Analogous measures have also been adopted in Stockholm, Sweden, where the traffic has decreased by 23 per cent, in various cities in Norway (Oslo, Bergen and Trodheim) and in Singapore, actually the first city to introduce such scheme in 1975, subsequently upgraded in 1998.

The Mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg has praised the effectiveness of London's congestion charging scheme and has announced a similar plan for New York.