Toulouse. The Low Emission Zone (ZFE) is still not active. here’s why
First announced in April 2021. Then postponed to the following September. The Low Emission Zone (ZFE) has still not been set up in Toulouse. A delay denounced by the metropolitan opposition but that the majority explains pragmatically.
“Jean-Luc Moudenc shows incompetence on transport and air pollution”, we can read in a press release signed Ecologist and citizen metropolis for solidarity territories (Mects). The metropolitan opposition group relies in particular on the latest report from Atmo Occitanie to back up his remarks: “In Toulouse, the 2020 figures state that our agglomeration is in the red: the annual concentration of PM2.5 has reached double the limit value: 10 micrograms / m3 instead of 5; the annual NO2 concentration reaches more than three times the limit value: 33 micrograms / m3 instead of 10. “
ZFE delayed a second time
This pollution could be reduced by the establishment of the Low Emission Zone (ZFE). But the latter, first announced in April 2021, was postponed to last September. Problem, in October, it is still not in service. “Today, 100% of the population is exposed to chronic fine particle pollution and 80% to nitrogen dioxide. Health security is not guaranteed. Meanwhile, the ZFE is not moving forward! »Criticizes Antoine Maurice, from the Mects group. An assertion that denies the metropolis. “Everything is ready,” assures François Chollet, vice-president of Toulouse Métropole, in charge of ecology.
Even the road signs marking the perimeter of the ZFE are in place, but they are covered as long as the high start is not given. A launch that is slow to come. François Chollet explains: “The decree of application of the Climate and Resilience law, of August 22, 2021, changes the initial methods, which obliges us to review some details before commissioning. This is to avoid legal fragility. “
Details that matter
Indeed, until the implementing decree, the law specified that the order launching the ZFE was to be signed by the three mayors of the municipalities concerned by the area, namely Jean-Luc Moudenc, the mayor of Toulouse, Karine Traval-Michelet, the mayor of Colomiers, and Dominique Fouchier, the mayor of Tournefeuille. From now on, the implementing decree stipulates that the decree must be governed by the president of Toulouse Métropole alone. “We are therefore waiting for the state to tell us what to do. Can we put the ZFE into service and regularize the administrative situation afterwards? Or should we absolutely launch the device by the sole signature of Jean-Luc Moudenc ”, recalls François Chollet.
In addition, the implementing decree now requires an impact study, “which was not requested at the start”, specifies the elected official. The metropolis assures to have the data, to have carried out this survey but in an unofficial manner. “We have studied the consequences on traffic, on air quality … But we have not published the results, in the file submitted for consultation, under the title of ” impact study ”” , says François Chollet. Thus, the metropolis is also waiting for the State to specify whether it must be drawn up as such an impact study, or if it can be added.
A delicate schedule
To date, no date has been put forward by Toulouse Métropole regarding the commissioning of the ZFE, but the elected official in charge of the file is optimistic: “I think that we will have an answer in a few days… At least, I I hope ! However, obtaining the last administrative details does not mean that the device will be launched immediately. Because, another problem, the kickoff could coincide with the return of the Yellow Vests. The latter had already denounced the social inequality of the ZFE, which limits access to the city center to recent vehicles, have a Crit’air 1 and 2 sticker by 2024. and motorists, who will demonstrate the November 6 against the future ZFE, denouncing a punitive ecology device.