Prague to charge non-residential vehicles a fee to transit its historical center

Prague, in cooperation with the Prague 1 district, plans to charge non-residents entry fees for driving through the city’s historical center. The aim is to calm traffic by limiting unnecessary transiting.

The measure could come into effect at the beginning of next year, but the exact parameters are still being discussed. The plan would also limit visitor parking in the center, Prague Deputy Mayor Zdeněk Hřib and Prague 1 Mayor Terezie Radoměřská said at a debate on transport, according to ČTK.

The exact size of the zone and the amount of the fee still have to be decided. The entrance fee would not affect the residents because it will be checked with the help of cameras connected to the database of parking permits.

Restricting cars passing through the center has been discussed for a long time, but politicians have not yet agreed on a solution. According to Hřib, the current management of the city and Prague 1 reached an agreement on charging instead of completely closing some areas for transit. The City Council will now decide on the possible introduction of measures.

"It is a softer measure, but it pursues the same goal [of calming traffic]," Hřib said. Radoměřská confirmed the step. "The zone in the city center is to be charged," she said.

Hřib added that traffic congestion in the center is a problem for public transport because cars slow down trams and delays then affect the entire network.

According to Hřib, the Technical Road Administration (TSK) is working on transport models. "There will be some traffic impacts, but we know it won't mean some catastrophic apocalypse," he said.

Prague 1 also wants to resolve problems with parking. Hřib said the city will also discuss comprehensive adjustments to the system of paid parking zones to create more parking spaces for local residents in the center.

Hřib also mentioned the difficulty of enforcing violations, which end in lengthy and largely unsuccessful administrative proceedings. On this issue, Hřib wants to push for legislative changes.

"If the rules are not enforceable, they will be completely useless. And for that enforceability, a change in the law is really necessary, it simply cannot be solved in any other way," he said.

Radoměřská agreed that the enforceability of the new rules is also essential. "There must be a thorough, careful, emphatic, and uncompromising implementation of what we introduce," she said.