Residents oppose increases but mayor cites environmental policy

The mayor of Rome Ignazio Marino has announced that he wants massive price hikes to cost of residential and commercial parking permits in the limited traffic zones (ZTL) of the historic centre as part of an environmental policy in favour of car-sharing and reducing the use of private vehicles in the city centre.

The Corriere della Sera newspaper reports that the initial five-year fee for city-centre residents is set to increase from the current €78 to €1,016 (for vehicles up to 19 horsepower); from €94 to €1,216 (for vehicles up to 23 horsepower); and the fee for vehicles above 23 horsepower will rise from €109 to €1,416.

The one-year charge for commercial vehicles is also expected to increase from the current €610 to €2,016 for 19-horse power vehicles, while vehicles of 23-horsepower or more will cost €2,816.

There will be a 50 per cent decrease for electric cars and a 25 per cent drop for natural gas vehicles, and the city has also confirmed the suspension of €4 eight-hour and €70 monthly passes.

Residents of Rome's city centre have been backed by politicians and consumer watchdog Codacons in their protest over substantial increases in ZTL (limited traffic zones) charges in the centro storico.