The measure is included in the technical report of the Reduced Emissions Zone Avenida-Baixa-Chiado (ZER ABC), available on the website www.zer.lisboa.pt, which also foresees that only vehicles after 2005 (EURO 4 vehicles) are to circulate in the Baixa area, with the exception of residents, from April 2021.

The new ZER was presented last week by the Mayor of Lisbon, Fernando Medina (PS), and predicts that, starting in the summer, car traffic in the Baixa area will become exclusive for residents, badge holders and vehicles between 6:30am and 12am.

The presented project also proposes the prohibition of car circulation in the central strip of Avenida da Liberdade between Restauradores and Rua das Pretas and the replacement of the original model of upward / downward circulation on the sides of the avenue.

The limitation of car traffic to 30 kilometres / hour is presented in the report as a “clear bet on road safety”.

On the other hand, the municipality defends the improvement of the performance of the bus and tram network and the “reinforcement of Carris' offer, in particular its regularity”.

“Obviously, the reduction in traffic resulting from the regulation of access will have a positive effect in reducing conflicts with individual transport, as well as the elimination of parking on the public road in the places where today Carris registers more interruptions, namely, in Rua da Escola Polytechnic, in Rua de São Paulo and Rua dos Fanqueiros (top 3 of time lost by Carris)”, reads in the document.

Among the routes that are now reserved for public transport is Rua da Prata, a “significant part” of Rua da Conceição, Rua de São Pedro de Alcântara between Largo Trindade Coelho and Rua das Taipas, Largo Camões and Rua do Loreto, Largo do Chiado and the descending direction of Rua de São Bento.

“The proposed circulation model aims to improve circulation conditions within the area for public transport and for authorized segments, especially residents,” is also mentioned.

In the report, several proposals are presented to change the current circulation system in Baixa, namely the transformation of Rua do Ouro into a “one-way channel for public transport and individual transport (authorized segments), in the north-south direction”.

Among other changes, Rua da Prata is also expected to be exclusively accessible to public transport, with a road in a south-north direction.

“Within the intervention area, very high traffic reductions are expected, which can reach 75 percent in some streets. In general, a 40 percent reduction in the number of vehicles in circulation is expected, from the current 100 thousand to 60 thousand. Thus, up to 60 thousand tons of CO2 emissions / year will be avoided”, reads the report.