The ban on diesel and petrol cars in a smaller zone in Stockholm's city centre was supposed to be introduced at the turn of the year. However, in November, the County Administrative Board stopped the decision pending further notice, as several companies operating in the area had appealed.
This so-called injunction was in turn appealed by the City of Stockholm to the Transport Agency. Now, the Transport Agency is rejecting the city's appeal, which means that the decision on the environmental zone does not apply pending a final ruling by the County Administrative Board on the matter.
"This means that the Transport Agency is approving the delay of the environmental zone. It's a loss for all pedestrians and cyclists in Stockholm's city centre", says Lars Strömgren (Green Party), Traffic Commissioner of the City of Stockholm, in a press release.
The Moderate Party in Stockholm welcomes the news.
"It's now a fact that the red-green introduction of environmental zone class three is stopped for the time being. The Transport Agency's decision is a victory for common sense", says Opposition Commissioner Dennis Wedin (The Moderate Party) in a comment.
The environmental zone covers 20 blocks and is located within Kungsgatan, Birger Jarlsgatan, Hamngatan, and Sveavägen. Only electric cars and low-emission gas vehicles will be allowed there, and for heavy traffic, also low-emission plug-in hybrids.
Corrected version: An earlier version contained an incorrect statement about which vehicles are allowed in environmental zone 3.
