What is changing for drivers in central Paris and from when?
A 5.5 km2 zone in the very centre is set to have traffic limitations from Monday
It is is hoped that allowing less traffic in the very centre of the city will improve air and noise pollution
Fernando Uyaguari/Shutterstock
Traffic in central Paris is set to be limited from November 4, after several postponements and negotiations with police about the zone size and districts included in the perimeter.
It has now been decided that a 5.5 km2 perimeter in the very centre of the city will be off-limits to all traffic ‘going through’ the area. The new area will be called the zone à trafic limité (ZTL), and will cover the four most-central arrondissements of the capital.
The zone will come into force from Monday, November 4, confirmed David Belliard, deputy mayor in charge of transport at the Paris Mairie. The Paris Police has also signed a co-agreement to this effect.
The only traffic allowed will be:
Emergency vehicles
Buses
Taxis
Vehicles for disabled people
People who are driving in the area because they live or work there. You may need proof, such as proof of address, or a letter from your employer.
Traffic starting or ending its journey within the zone. You may need proof when entering the zone, e.g. cinema or theatre tickets, doctor’s appointment letter, etc.
Campaign pledge
The ZTL was a campaign pledge by Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who said it was part of her plans to “liberate the public space” from cars and pollution.
Paris will not be the first European city to enact such a policy; Madrid, Milan, and Rome also have similar schemes in their centres.
Delays and inclusions
Plans for the scheme were first announced in May 2021, but it has been subject to several delays and negotiations with the Préfecture de Police, particularly about which districts should be included.
Initially, the districts between Boulevard Saint-Germain and the Seine on the Left Bank, the islands of the Cité and Saint-Louis, and the high quays on the Right Bank, were included in the zone. These have now been removed from the perimeter.
Less air and noise pollution
An impact study by the Paris Mairie suggests that the measure could lead to a significant reduction in the volume of traffic in the busiest roads in the capital, including a 30% drop on Avenue de l'Opéra and 15% less on Boulevard de Sébastopol.
The report also states that the measure will reduce noise and air pollution, with lower concentrations of nitrogen dioxide in the air.
Read also: 13 stations in Paris above recommended pollution levels - which are they?
Read also: Paris mairie publishes first results from ring road speed drop to 50 km/h
It comes after the Paris Mairie reduced the speed limit on the périphérique ring road from 70 km/h to 50 km/h in a bid to improve air and noise pollution, and improve road safety. The mairie said that in less than a month, initial studies suggested the measure is effective.
