JP

Russia: Saint- Petersburg, and traffic problems.

Building more new roads is not the answer

A few years ago in many foreign European cities in transport planning: the car was the "king
of the city".

Everything was planned and built taking into account the interests of the motorist.

If it was good for the motorist, it was good for business, good for everyone, the government
both national and local seemed to think.

Then came the recognition of pollution, accompanied by health warnings.

Levels of nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and particulates in cities

generated by motor vehicles, were found to be hazardous to health.

According to the World Health Organization, contained in its recent report, 40 000 deaths per
year are associated with environmental pollution (which is comparable to 1800 cases of road
accidents).

In a European Commission Document Reclaiming city streets for people -. Margot

WALLSTRÖM Member of the European Commission responsible for Environment Wrote
in the foreword; I quote: One of the key issues affecting the quality of the environment and
the quality of life in our towns and cities is road traffic. Heavy motor traffic means poor air
quality.

In London and other cities reports state that all children breath in toxic air daily, damaging
their lung growth.

Roughly 4,300 deaths in London per year are attributed to air quality related illness

Road transport is the biggest source of emissions damaging health in many cities

In many cities worldwide, environmental protection, health, and safety for people are now top
priorities.
Future plans for European capitals is pedestrianized city centers, invest in public transport
introduce more traffic regulations and laws

However, it seems that the St. Petersburg authorities are still locked in the car- is the “king of
the city” syndrome

In St. Petersburg, the problem is traffic jams, and it seems that the only answer the city
planners can erroneously decide is to build more roads.

This is an outdated idea from the 1960s when city planners adopted the same plan as Saint-
Petersburg planners have now. “Must build more and wider roads”.

The plan has not worked in any European city and it will not work in Saint-Petersburg now.

The more roads created, the more cars they attracted

Over 20 years ago a study In California, reported that new, additional traffic will fill up to
90% of any increase in new road capacity within just five years.

In the short term, congestion can be reduced by adding roads...

But it will only be a temporary short-term relief.

Build another road and traffic will only decrease in the short term, the law of induced demand
will take care of it.

Buïlding new roads attract and create new traffic, more drivers will want access, causing
more congestion once again.

Basically more people go out on the road and drive when there are more roads to move on.

How to solve? Road construction is not the answer

.The solution to Saint-Petersburg problem is fairly straight forward;

The long - term reduction of congestion means that people must change their habits and move
to more sustainable and efficient modes of transport: walking, cycling, bus, tram, and rail.

St. Petersburg already has an excellent public transport system.

Encourage or force people to use public transport

Bus delays (which discourages some people from using them) are mainly caused due to
road congestion

Have, as in most cities, “bus Lanes only " for buses and emergency vehicles

Commercial buses should stop at official bus stops,

Ensuring compliance with existing and new traffic laws through CCTV surveillance
Free parking in the workplace attracts traffic and therefore indirectly contributes to
congestion.

Planners in some European cities are restricting the number of parking places at workplaces

Place pre-paid parking meters outside offices and other workplaces to prevent free parking of
staff on the highway throughout the day thereby blocking lanes.

Install pre-paid Parking meters in busy streets.

Some cities now build apartment blocks that don't have car parking on site or outside.

Improving Cycling infrastructure

The authorities should also do more for pedestrians.

The revenue generated from parking fees will give the city money to cover all costs

In Saint-Petersburg, it seems it is considered acceptable and approved for delivery

vehicles/works vehicles to park on the sidewalk near a shop, office or apartment, even if the
vehicle can Park on the highway. It appears that the convenience/laziness of the delivery
drive outweighs the convenience, health, and safety of pedestrians, wheelchair users. those
with baby strollers and those with a sight impediment (blind)

The health, safety, and protection for those who are blind seems to be of a very low priority

The health and safety of pedestrians are definitely ignored where street works are being
undertaken.

Works method statements and risk assessments must be prepared, approved, displayed and
most importantly enforced

Where the authorities will have to come to some kind of agreement with motorists if there is
a problem of lack of space and health and safety of the population.

It is the motorist who must give way to distract from the sensitive streets and slow down.
Compromise is needed,

The traffic planners of Saint-Petersburg should look to cities in Europe such as Copenhagen,
Freiburg, and Groningen and see how they manage congestion effectively, they employ a
wide range of complementary measures, carefully balancing the needs of residents,
commuters, businesses, visitors and tourists

What are some other cities plans and policies to combat traffic problems?

Paris will ban diesel cars and double the number of bike lanes.

Brussels, Belgium features the largest car-free area in Europe.

Even in the USA San Francisco wants to ban cars on one of its busiest streets.
London Introduced the Congestion Charge to Central London on 17th February 2003

Has had Low Emission Zone since 4th February 2008

An Ultra Low Emission Zone will be introduced on 7th September 2020 and operate 24
hours a day, 7 days a week

London will also continue to build its cycle highway and it plans to invest £1,690,000GBP =

145,204,322.68RUB (1 RUB = 0.0116681 GBP; 1 GBP = 85.7038 RUB As on: 2019-02-24

per year for the next 5 years on its cycling infrastructure.

And of course in Copenhagen, the effort to introduce pedestrian-only zones continues as does
the construction of its cycle superhighway.

In addition to London, congestion charges also apply in Singapore, Stockholm, and Milan

Meanwhile in Saint-Petersburg

Gazprom and the local authorities of St. Petersburg are planning to build roads for the
opening of the Lakhta business center.

They argue that this will solve the problem of transport links in the North-West of St.
Petersburg.

It includes the expansion of existing roads and road junctions that will allow drivers to drive
in any direction, bypassing the city centre.

. The construction of the Western high-speed diameter, the construction of the Shuvalovsky
highway and many other projects, including the expansion of the Primorsky highway in
the Lakhta area from two lanes to six lanes and a modern road junction at the intersection of
Savushkin and glider streets, will allow motorists to pass the problem area without stopping
at a traffic light. the construction of the road junction at the crossroads of Savushkina and
Planernaya streets the throughput capacity of the highways connecting the district with the
rest of the city will increase by half.

.But who will benefit from all this?

Apart from the road construction companies of course

According to Gazprom and the authorities, the benefits of planned interchanges to improve
connectivity should be measured both by reducing travel time and delays on the Strategic
road network and by reducing congestion and delays that flow to the local road network.

No mention anywhere by the authorities or Gazprom about cycle infrastructure or pedestrians

Pollution indicators will be increased thereby increasing toxic air that damages health

Not everything that is good for Gazprom is good for St. Petersburg
Saint-Petersburg city planners should not concur with everything that road builders,
motorists, and developers want

Planning authorities have 2 choices:

1. Continue to capitulate to the demands of motorists, road builders and developers for
votes
2.Think of protecting the environment and the health of people not only for this
generation but for future generationsI

3.According to an international organization in Moscow, St Petersburg and other cities in

European Russia, more than 80% of atmospheric pollution is caused by traffic.

***Lewis Mumford's famous quote; Building more roads to prevent congestion is like
a fat man loosening his belt to prevent obesity is paraphrased from an article he
wrote in The New Yorker in 1955 he wrote, I quote “multiplying the number of ways
of getting in and out of town, or providing more parking space for cars that should
not have been lured into the city in the first place. Like the tailor’s remedy for obesity
– letting out the seams of the trousers and loosening the belt – this does nothing to
curb the greedy appetite that has caused the fat to accumulate …”
It is very true but city planners do not seem to see this
JWP
The author is a retired highway/bridge surveyor/engineer engaged for many years by National
and local Government Authorities /Agencies, International organizations and consultant
engineers on preparation of method statements, risk assessments, inspection and supervision
of major infrastructure. bridge, highways, drainage and rail projects throughout Great Britain
and mainland Europe,

Was a member of London Undergrounds monitoring team on the construction of London’s

first fully integrated public transport hub at the Vauxhall Cross interchange in the south
London Borough of Lambeth

© John W.Pocock

***Lewis Mumford an American was an author, urban planner, historian, sociologist, philosopher of
technology.
Particularly noted for his study of cities and urban architecture
His written works include; The City in History. Technics and Civilization. The Myth of the Machine,
vols. 1–2.
The Urban Prospect
Sidewalk Critic
His many awards included: National Book Award for Nonfiction (1962) · Royal Gold Medal (1961) ·
Presidential Medal of Freedom (1964)
Lewis Mumford was recognized as one of the most distinguished urbanists of the 20th Century.