A USDOT University Transportation Center

Vehicle Restrictions

Vehicle restrictions are a type of regulatory strategy to limit vehicle travel on certain roads and time of day.1 This is similar to transit-oriented development practices, in which cities are designed to be more pedestrian-oriented and discourage single occupant vehicle trips by introducing car-free centers. A car-free center is a location where the population of the city center primarily uses forms of public transportation or walking in replace of car travel.2 The infrastructure of the location does not support large motor vehicle traffic and makes it difficult for drivers to get around the city, thus promoting cycling and walking.3 Vehicle restrictions can be specific to the type of vehicle, such as permitting only certain types of vehicles from entering the street. This strategy is most applicable in dense urban regions and commercial centers.

Considering this strategy will help achieve the goal of the following objectives

  • Less Contamination
  • Less Emissions
  • Less Traffic Noise
  • Connectivity and Inclusion
  • Healthy Destinations
  • Less Traffic Violence
  • Active Transportation
  • Green Space

Transportation lifecycle phases

This strategy is associated with the following transportation lifecycle phases:

  • Construction
  • End of Life
  • Maintenance
  • Material Selection
  • Operations
  • Policy and Planning
  • Project Development

Who's involved

  • Car owners
  • Local governments
  • MPOs
  • Policymakers
  • Transit agencies
Vehicle restrictions are a type of regulatory strategy to limit vehicle travel on certain roads and time of day.1 This is similar to transit-oriented development practices, in which cities are designed to be more pedestrian-oriented and discourage single occupant vehicle trips by introducing car-free centers. A car-free center is a location where the population of the city center primarily uses forms of public transportation or walking in replace of car travel.2 The infrastructure of the location does not support large motor vehicle traffic and makes it difficult for drivers to get around the city, thus promoting cycling and walking.3 Vehicle restrictions can be specific to the type of vehicle, such as permitting only certain types of vehicles from entering the street. This strategy is most applicable in dense urban regions and commercial centers.

How it Helps

Introducing vehicle restrictions in certain urban areas can reduce both vehicle emissions and traffic noise. For instance, implementing truck restrictions can result in substantial reductions in noise levels by roughly 10 to 15 adjusted decibels (dBA) and decrease overall noise exposure to nearby populations.4
By reducing total traffic levels and shifting travel to alternative modes, it can lead to increases in ridesharing activities, public transit use, and active modes such as biking and walking. Since vehicle restrictions will prohibit vehicles from entering certain streets, it will make pedestrians and other vulnerable road users feel safer on the roadways.

Implementing

Enforcement Methods:

This transportation management strategy can be enforced by a permit system or number plate restriction system. 5 Further, it can operate during only certain time periods, such as nights or weekends, or impact only certain types of vehicles, such as heavy trucks. For example, private vehicles from outside the area and through traffic are often banned, while residents and service and commercial vehicles may receive permits. Number plate restrictions function by banning vehicles whose plates end in odd numbers on some days, and those ending in even numbers on the alternate days. These types of restrictions are most often used in city centers.

Equity Impacts:

Restricting car traffic may inequitably effect people without other travel options.5 It could also cause traffic to divert to and impact adjacent areas. To avoid inequities, vehicle restrictions should include appropriate exemptions for certain road users such as older adults, individuals with disabilities, or other groups of people.1 These populations may be less able to utilize public transit or active transportation infrastructure and, therefore, rely on a private vehicle to get to their destinations.

Potential Barriers:

Introducing vehicle restrictions will likely be met with some degree of public protest or political backlash, so there should be strategies in place to address this. For instance, education, incentives, and effective planning are all ways to minimize oppositions.

Examples

1) Truck Restricted Streets in Massachusetts

Cambridge, Massachusetts maintains a ‘Truck Restricted Streets List’ to reduce the adverse impacts of truck noise in the city. The city maintains a Truck Enforcement Unit, in addition to the Cambridge Police Department, to control and enforce truck routes.

https://www.cambridgema.gov/traffic/sustainabletransportation/Trucks/truckrestrictedstreetslist

2) Superblocks in Barcelona

The city of Barcelona developed a ‘Superblock’ urban design concept, and within each superblock contains green streets that are closed to most vehicular traffic. Therefore, walking and biking are the primary forms of transport, and the areas have experienced improved air quality, less noise pollution, and greater rates of physical activity. Although there was some pushback from the community over implementing these designs, the city council has focused on fostering equality, and the community has since welcomed the positive changes that superblocks have brought.

https://www.citiesforum.org/news/superblock-superilla-barcelona-a-city-redefined/

1. Victoria Transport Policy Institute. (2014). Vehicle Restrictions. https://www.vtpi.org/tdm/tdm33.htm
2. Gundlach, A., et al. (2018). Investigation people's preferences for car-free city centers: A discrete choice experiment. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and the Environment, 63, 677-688. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2018.07.004
3. Steffen, A. D. (2022). Cities Around the World Are Going Car Free: Why and Where to Find Them. Intelligent Living. https://www.intelligentliving.co/cities-going-car-free/
4. Rochat, J., et al. (2020). Summary of Noise-Reducing Strategies. https://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/nchrp/docs/NCHRP25-57TechMemo.pdf
5. KonSULT. (2016). Regulatory Restrictions. University of Leeds. http://www.konsult.leeds.ac.uk/pg/09/