Introduction and management of noise low emission zones: LIFE MONZA project

Abstract

The introduction of Low Emission Zones, an urban area subject to road traffic restrictions in order to ensure compliance with the air pollutants limit values, set by the European Directive on ambient air quality (2008/50/EC), are common and well-established actions in the administrative government of the cities and the impacts on air quality improvement are widely analyzed, while the effects and benefits concerning the noise have not been addressed in a comprehensive manner. The definition, the criteria for analysis, and the management methods of a Noise Low Emission Zone are not yet clearly expressed and shared. LIFE MONZA project (Methodologies for Noise low emission Zones introduction and management—LIFE15 ENV/ IT/000586) addresses these issues. The first objective of the project, co-funded by the European Commission, is to introduce an easy-replicable method for the identification and the management of the Noise Low Emission Zones, an urban area subject to traffic restrictions, whose impacts and benefits regarding noise issues will be analyzed and tested in the pilot area of the city of Monza, located in North Italy. Background conditions, structure, and objectives of the project will be discussed in this paper.