Sofia

Air quality

INNOAIR - Innovative demand responsive green public transportation for cleaner air in urban environment

“INNOAIR is a look into the future refracted through the prism of current traffic problems and polluted air. The quest for cleaner air has formed a strong collaboration between scientists, business and citizens, and has brought about ambitious and unprecedented public transport services to be tested. We are glad not only to prepare to deliver cleaner air from the introduction of on demand eco public transport in combination with green corridors and low emission zones to 1,3 million people in our city, but also to share this exciting journey with other European cities.”

Kristian Krastev, Deputy Mayor of Sofia and INNNOAIR Project Manager
Chiffres clef
10%
population increase for the last 10 years
25%
of the cars are older than 20 years
51%
of PM2.5 emissions produced by old cars
4
new urban transport services to be introduced resulting in PM and CO2 reduction
€ 3,712,553.52
Total ERDF budget granted
Challenge addressed

Air pollution in Sofia goes way back and despite recent positive developments, the city is still struggling and exceeding the minimum thresholds. This is a complex problem. While some factors – like the geographical location in a plateau surrounded by high mountains causing winter thermal inversions – are beyond human control, other causes are linked to human activity. The city is growing fast in terms of population and new residential and office districts. The number of vehicles registered in Sofia raises daily. There are 550-600 cars per 1,000 inhabitants. Bulgarians drive some of the oldest cars in the EU: in 2017, one fourth of all vehicles were older than 20 years and additional 60% – between 10 and 20 years. Traffic in Sofia has the highest impact in terms of pollution of ambient air.  

Solution proposed

Sofia is taking ambitious steps to electrify and expand public transport options. The city will launch “On-demand green public transport”, which will shift the way public transport works. Instead of driving on pre-defined routes, the new e-buses will create route map based on citizen demand submitted via mobile application. The app will leverage machine learning and advanced data analytics to create the most efficient path for each ride, collecting as much passengers as possible. This innovative public transport service will be implemented together with a wide array of initiatives: low emission zones, green corridors, congestion charge, promotion of active mobility. This coordinated effort of Sofia shall reduce pollution and protect the air we share, while also modernizing and innovating our public transport.

Partnership
  • Sofia Municipality;
  • 2 universities: Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", Plovdiv University “Paisii Hilendarski”;
  • 2 non-for profit organisations: Sofia Development Association, National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria;
  • 2 companies: Sofia Urban Mobility Centre, Telelink City Services;
  • 1 national public authority: National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology.
Expected results

INNOAIR introduces transformational innovation in the form of "On-demand green public transportation", which will revolutionize urban mobility in Sofia. The project delivers a set of tools that will reduce single vehicle drives and improve air quality in the city. Upon completion of INNOAIR the city will have a pool of coordinated policy tools, including:

  • "On-demand green public transportation", formed by a platform with machine learning and advanced analytic capabilities and mini electric busses;
  • Congestion charge model;
  • Low Emission geospatial urban zones, preventing vehicles from entering the city center and certain areas on polluted days;
  • Green corridors for active transport. 

The project will result in significant behavioral change and broader use of public and active transport. PM and CO2 emissions will be reduced, contributing to the improved quality of air and citizen health.

Main milestones
  • October 2021: Digital tool with incentives for switching to public transport or active transport released.
  • December 2021: Low emission geospatial zones mapped and tested.
  • October 2022: Green corridors for active transport mapped.
  • February 2023: Congestion charge model developed.
  • May 2023: A series of 12 “Beat Air Pollution” citizen challenges delivered.
  • June 2023: On demand green transportation established.
Chiffres clef
10%
population increase for the last 10 years
25%
of the cars are older than 20 years
51%
of PM2.5 emissions produced by old cars
4
new urban transport services to be introduced resulting in PM and CO2 reduction
€ 3,712,553.52
Total ERDF budget granted
Contact du project
Dontcho Barbalov
Deputy mayor on finances and social affairs
Gereon Meyer
UIA Expert

Actualités du projet

The city of Sofia is a finalist in the European Mobility Week Awards 2022!

The city of Sofia is a finalist in the European Mobility Week Awards 2022!

We are happy to announce that Sofia is among the three finalists in the European Mobility Week competition for 2022 among two other European cities – ...
innoair

The new INNOAIR e-minibuses arrive in Sofia

On September 22th, the World Car-Free Day, the Municipality of Sofia presented to the citizens the new electric minibuses that would deliver the innov...
Sofia is a car city - at the cost of public transport.

Artificial Intelligence: Can smarter transit prevent Sofia from car overkill?

INNOAIR Podcast Episode #2 is covering the opportunities and challenges of using artificial intelligence in managing sustainable on-demand mobility so...
Picture of the jury

INNOAIR hackathon: How to make urban mobility in Sofia smart and green?

INNOAIR Podcast Episode #1 is reporting on a hackathon aimed at ideas and solutions making Sofia's urban mobility smart and green....
tickets froms INNOAIR team

Art as an incentive for active transport in Sofia

Is a ticket for a concert of opera stars a good incentive to promote active transport in Sofia? The INNOAIR team proves that the answer is “Yes!”....
The Power of Inclusive Cooperation: INNOAIR Co-Design Workshop

The Power of Inclusive Cooperation: INNOAIR Co-Design Workshop

Sofia Development Association in partnership with Sofia Municipality held a radically different event, putting people at the heart of the Sofia mobili...
people drawing

INNOAIR: Social art as participatory place-making

An art project entitled “Place by the window” engaged the residents of Manastirski Livadi residential area in Sofia in participatory place-making as p...
Picture representing people discussing during online meeting and views of Sofia

INNOAIR stakeholder dialogue launched

Addressing a complex issue like air quality in a large metropolitan area and making it a testbed to develop, test and showcase an innovative solution ...

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