USE OF AIR QUALITY DATA IN TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT

Traffic is a considerable source of air pollution. However, air quality surveillance data has so far not been linked directly to traffic management. Traffic management stands for travel and traffic information, demand management, traffic control, fleet and transportation management. The air quality problems caused by traffic are these days mainly attributed to nitrogen dioxide, particles and ground-level ozone. The most serious health hazards in ambient air in Europe are caused by fine particles resulting from burning processes. On the account of health consequences the fine particles resulting from burning processes are probably more harmful than street dust. The objective of the report was to examine the feasibility and usability of air quality data as well as to determine a preliminary action plan for the use of air quality data in traffic management. The Telematics application RTD&D Programme of the European Union included several projects with the improvement of air quality through traffic management as either direct or indirect objective. The projects tested and developed real traffic limitations, road tolls based on air quality, park-and-ride system operation, public transport priorities, traffic signal priorities, re-routing and different means of travel and traffic information. All the projects show the measures as improving air quality. Some municipalities in Finland have an action plan for air pollution episodes. They are outlined in this report together with their equivalents from some European cities. As part of the task, an inquiry to the largest cities in Finland about air quality monitoring and their reporting, information dissemination on the results, and the quality of the monitoring data was carried out. All participating municipalities had the means to produce real-time air quality data for traffic management purposes. The views of public authorities on the use of air quality data for the purposes of traffic management were examined through interviews. The measures improving air quality can be divided into those resulting in long-term improvements and into those improving it temporarily (1-3 day period). The report examined daily short-term measures of traffic management which can temporarily improve air quality. As a conclusion of the report, ways to use air quality data for the purposes of traffic management are recommended. Finally, application of the action plan in the form of pilot implementations in the Helsinki metropolitan area, cities of Turku and Tampere is described. The project has been granted European Community financial support in the field of Trans-European Networks - Transport.