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Bristol | Göteborg | Ljubljana | Ravenna | Riga | ||||
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About START START deals with making goods distribution more energy efficient by combining access restrictions, incentives and the development of consolidation centres. START is coordinated by the City of Göteborg. For more information contact Håkan Perslow Lisa Sundell |
Riga
For Riga the participation in START is about exchanging experiences with the other cities, the possibility to increase local staff knowledge and the necessity & possibility to work out freight restrictions in the historical centre and proposals for coordinated goods delivery in the city.
Riga, the capital of Latvia, and largest city of the Baltic States, is geographically situated in the centre between western and eastern Europe and Scandinavia. All main roads and railways in Latvia have their destination in Riga or go through the capital. The total area of Riga is around 307 km² and it has a population of more than 728 000, which constitutes 1/3 of the total number of inhabitants in Latvia.
Since the independence of Latvia and the consequential changes in the national economy and lifestyle Riga has the same development tendencies as other European cities; an increase in traffic and private car ownership with negative impacts on the environment. Private car ownership for example has grown from 130 to 330 cars per 1000 habitants during the last decade.
Delivery restrictions for the historical centre
In 1992 Riga implemented access restrictions on freight transport during the day time in Riga´s historical centre. Unfortunately these restrictions have been igonred due to insufficent controls and lack of personnel to receive deliveries after working hours and the lack of storage facitilites in some of the historical buildings, thereby requiring deliveries several times a day.The START project is expected to find new solutions and adapt the access restrictions for freight transport in Riga’s historical centre such as special drop-off delivery points, restrictions for various vehicle types with preferences being given to environmentally friendly and modern transport vehicles and special zones restricting access to large vehicles in areas with historic buildings and narrow streets. The new access restrictions will be based on an analysis of goods deliveries and garbage removal in the historical centre of Riga carried out by external expertise. It is also expected to improve the control functions by using the latest information technologies.
Study possibilities for a freight logistic centre
Riga will in the project study the possibilities and requirements of implementing a freight logistics centre to reduce freight traffic, improve delivery quality and decrease air pollution.
The study will include an analysis of existing freight distribution centres in Riga and its surroundings, data collection on the needs for delivery of goods in Riga and the pros and cons of the potential future distribution centres in Riga and their whereabouts. Specifications will be carried out on delivery vehicle sizes and methods in Riga’s historical centre for individual operators and identify their numbers, and co-ordinate the channelling of their deliveries to one operator. These operators should ensure the high quality of their transport vehicles. This would also be easier for the City Council to control. In time, this system could be implemented in other areas within the city such as in high density residential areas.
Introduction of biofuels
Within START the city of Riga will carry out a promotional campaign for the introduction of biofuels. A study of current freight transport will be carried out covering the technical condition of the existing freight transport fleet in Riga and Latvia for introduction of biofuels and an analysis of the results of the former pilot projects on introducing biofuels. Through cooperation with the Latvian Freight Forwarders Association and the Retailers Association and the local freight network the city will get a better understanding of how the City Council can provide attractive solutions and possible incentives.Local Freight Network
In Riga a local freight network will be established with representatives from Latvian Retailers Association, Riga Port Authority, Latvian Freight Association, Latvian Roads Traffic Safety Directorate, Riga City Council Environmental Department, Riga Centre „ Agenda 21” among others.For more information contact:
Olita Sproge
RCC Traffic Department
E-mail: olita.sproge@riga.lv
    Olita Sproge |