The environmental impacts from the implementation of a pedestrianization scheme

Road transport is by far the major source of environmental degradation in urban centres. Hence, transport schemes like pedestrianization can have significant impacts on local environmental conditions, by provoking changes in the characteristics of traffic flows and on the patterns of traffic emissions. This paper analyses the extent to which the implementation of a pedestrianization scheme in Chester (a medium-sized historic city situated in northwest England) can influence the total vehicle exhaust emissions and local levels of air pollution concentration and noise from traffic. The analysis is based on the application of a road traffic assignment model in conjunction with models for the estimation of environmental degradation. This approach provides decision-makers with valuable information about the environmental implications from changes in the characteristics of the transport system.