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Date Published: 21/09/2023

Alicante cities could lose millions in funding if they do not introduce Low Emissions Zones

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Torrevieja, Benidorm and other large city centres will be forced to reduce air pollution and promote public transport, or else risk losing important European funding

Alicante cities could lose millions in funding if they do not introduce Low Emissions Zones

By the end of 2023, all cities and municipalities in Spain with a population of over 50,000 were supposed to implement Low Emissions Zones (‘Zonas de Bajas Emisiones’ or ZBEs) in their town centres as part of a push by the Spanish government to reduce pollution and promote sustainable transport.

While the mechanics of how this would work was left in the hands of each of the more than 200 municipalities affected nationwide, some suggested measures were a London ULEZ-style system whereby different classes of vehicles would have to pay to display stickers that would allow them to circulate in city centres, among other initiatives such as improving bus and bicycle facilities.

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In practice, however, a great number of cities and towns in Spain have been delaying the implementation of their ZBEs while awaiting the resolution of the Spanish general election, since it is assumed that if the party currently in opposition, the PP, comes to power, they will either reverse or water down the need to create these low emissions areas.

Now, though, sick of so much prevarication, the government’s Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda has threatened towns across the country with cutting off vital funding if they do not comply with the rules.

Alicante Low Emissions Zones

In Alicante province, there are six municipalities that are obliged to introduce a ZBE: Alicante city, Elche, Torrevieja, Benidorm, Alcoy and Elda. Between them, these cities receive 44 million euros in European funds, money which they are at risk of losing or which they may even be forced to pay back.

The city of Alicante, which has received some nine million euros of European aid for its ZBE, must have all initiatives ready by the end of this year, except for the installation of charging systems for electric buses in municipal depots, which has a deadline of December 2024. Thus, projects such as calming traffic and improving sustainable mobility on the Gadea‐Soto axes (3.2 million), the acquisition of electric vehicles for public transport (2.5 million) have just three months to be completed, as do the implementation of the ZBE in the Gran Vía ring (2.24 million), the digitalisation of public transport with payment linked to “Alicante moves” (1.76 million), the regulation of merchandise spaces (202,000 euros), together with the conditioning of Avenida Aguilera for the implementation of an exclusive bus lane (297,000 euros).

Elche, for its part, has been granted subsidies for a digital transformation and sustainability project for the urban transport service of Elche, the renewal and expansion of fourteen electric buses in the urban fleet, a recharging station for electric buses, the expansion of the bicycle public, the improvement of pedestrian infrastructure, the closure of the cycle lane ring and accessibility improvements at public transport stops.

In Benidorm, they have subsidised projects like the creation of a park-and-ride system, the acquisition of electric buses, the implementation of safe parking for bicycles with improved signage through metrobici, the implementation of the ZBE and the charging system electric bus in park and ride at the bus station.

In Torrevieja, according to the ministry’s resolutions, they have received funds for the digital transformation and sustainability of the urban transport service, the transformation of existing bus stops and the central interchange, the acquisition of zero-emission vehicles and the charging station for twelve electric vehicles, in addition to the implementation of pedestrian access routes to the ZBE, together with air quality and noise reduction measures.

In Alcoy, they have obtained European funds, according to the ministry, for a structuring and integrating bike lane of the Historic Center-Ensanches, the improvement of accessibility in the area of pedestrianization of the urban centre, the electrification of a part of the urban public transport fleet, the centralisation and intelligent management of the traffic light network for traffic optimisation, the La Riba deterrent parking and the management system of the complementary areas for the implementation of the ZBE, together with a bike lane in the Western access and connection with the existing network and the improvement of accessibility in the urban centre, on the Juana Moreno and Cervantes promenades, in addition to monitored parking for bicycles.

Finally, the ministry has also granted European funds to Elda for the creation of urban space in Plaza de Arriba and Plaza Joan Miró, in addition to the conditioning of Paseo de la Mora and the Tafalera neighbourhood and the adaptation and reform of the Footwear Workers Square.

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Image: Ayuntamiento de Benidorm

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