 |  |
|
Multi-level garage |
A street
in
winter-time |
Source: Traffic
Department
Source: PATRICIA LTD
The importance
of
Riga
as a transport hub has increased considerably
over the recent years.
Riga
occupies 307 km
2 and its population constitutes 1/3 of
the total number of inhabitants in
Latvia
. About 54 % of the national economy is
concentrated in
Riga
, consequently its dominant role in the
urbanization structure of Latvia . All main roads and railways in Latvia have their destination in
Riga or go through the capital, located on both
sides of the
Daugava
River .
Essential changes have taken place after
the restoration of independence (1990).
The number of vehicles has increased by ca. 40%
since 1995. Today about 80% of the total emissions of NO
X and 71% of CO in Riga comes from mobile
sources, mainly cars. In Riga are registered 234,788 motor vehicles
at the beginning of 2001 - 280 vehicles per 1000 inhabitants. Most
vehicles in Riga are 15-20 year old and they are not equipped with
exhaust catalysts.
As of year 1991, there
has been a significant drop in the number of passengers traveling by
public transport - from 830.6 million in 1991 it has plummeted to
250.3 million in 2000.
In spite of the large motor vehicle volumes in
city, Riga also has large number of electric vehicles (trams
and trolleys) - every day about 500 vehicles carry about 35-40%
from all passengers using public transport. However these means of
communication also are sources of air pollution with particulate
matter.
Thus, the topicality of a modernized traffic
policy became more and more manifested and in 1999 Riga City
Traffic Policy was approved, which identifies main development
and maintenance directions of the transport and related
infrastructure for the period until 2003.
How does
the transport influence city environment
