Thick Linzer Luft: no driving ban, public transport should fix it

Thick Linzer Luft: no driving ban, public transport should fix it

LINZ. Action against nitrogen dioxide in Linz: more rails instead of bans.

For more than an hour, some drivers had to stay in a traffic jam yesterday. An image: VOLKER WEIHBOLD

The statements of the Director of State Audit, Friedrich Pammer, were unequivocal: "The only bans to improve the air quality in Linz are the bans", a- he said in the spring of 2018. The Federal Office of Monuments had already introduced in 2016 an environmental zone (driving prohibitions for older diesel vehicles) requested in the city center of Linz. If the air pollution in Linz is not reduced, a EU contract infringement procedure is threatened. This could be expensive for Upper Austria. The basic fine is EUR 2.3 million. In addition, daily sentences between 2788 and 167 280 euros. "These penalties would also apply retroactively for each pbading day," said environmental advisor Rudi Anschober (Greens).

State policy ensured that the problem was taken seriously and provided a pause for reflection in order to put in place a package of measures against air pollution in Linz. Yesterday, these measures were presented by three state councilors and the mayor of Linz, in the interests of the media.

"Driving bans are not social"

There will be no traffic restrictions in the nation's capital: "Such a move would be antisocial, we should not force anyone to abandon their old car if they can afford it," says the transport advisor. Günther Steinkellner (FP).

The main cause of pollution by nitrogen oxides is, according to surveys of the country, with a traffic of 71%. For the mayor of Linz Klaus Luger (SP), the solution to the problem is obvious: "It is clear that this can only be achieved if rail transport develops in Linz."

Landrat Michael Strugl (VP) welcomes the fact that the package does not require any driving ban. These are "the ultimate ratio, if EU sanctions are imminent", he said. Steinkellner even doubts that the EU is starting such an action against Linz: "There are much bigger cities in which the transgressions are much larger, and there was no procedure", did it? he declares.

For Anschober, the question of whether there is a European procedure is a secondary issue: "The quality of the air depends mainly on the health of the population and not on fines".

It remains to be seen whether the package will improve Linz 's air quality. The Court of Auditors has already announced its intention to review the quality of air in Linz in 2020. "If these measures help to defuse the situation, we will review our follow-up review," said the director of the court, Pammer .

The set of measurements is available for review under land-oberoesterreich.gv.at/209540.htm.

measures

• Progress in upgrading diesel engine software and hardware
• Effective control of the handling of exhaust gases
• Modernization of the taxi fleet in Linz
• Concept of bus locks on Linzer Einfallstraßen
• The bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure will be extended
• Development of e-mobility, especially charging infrastructure
• Public transport must be developed in the central area of ​​Upper Austria

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