CIVITAS ReVeAL Tool: Implementing UVARs for Safer, Greener, and More Livable Cities

The main objective of the tool is to help cities that are considering putting urban vehicle access regulation (UVAR) measures in place. Such measures can help make cities more accessible, safer, quieter, greener, more liveable, less polluted, and lower emitting. Measures may be aimed at the entire city or a single part of it, such as the central business district or a certain neighbourhood.  

Description of the tool

A UVAR can be a simple or a complex measure. The ReVeAL project breaks each UVAR down into its component building blocks, to allow a UVAR to be developed that suits a city.  In order to understand what a complete UVAR “package” consists of, the ReVeAL project analysed a wide range of UVAR schemes to identify the constituent components of the scheme. 33 UVAR “building blocks” were identified that can be combined to create a UVAR package.

The building blocks were categorised into inputs and outputs:

1. Spatial interventions
2. Pricing aspects
3. Regulatory measures

Below that, the fields were divided into 12 sub-categories. Building blocks can be combined within or across the three measure fields to create a UVAR package.

How it works: inputs and outputs

Inputs include the selection of an appropriate UVAR type, the choice of relevant building blocks to create a tailored UVAR package, the identification and integration of complementary measures, stakeholder engagement to ensure broad support, the establishment of governance structures and legal frameworks, the development of communication strategies to inform and engage the public, and the creation of monitoring and evaluation plans to track the UVAR’s impact.

The expected outputs are a comprehensive UVAR package, an implementation strategy with clear timelines and responsibilities, a compliance and enforcement plan, impact assessment reports that track the UVAR’s effectiveness, and a feedback mechanism to adapt the UVAR as needed. These outputs aim to ensure that the UVAR is both effective and accepted by the public.