Evaluating access capability after Low Emission Zones implementation: a spatial distribution analysis

• Travel-time access effects due to LEZ implementation are evaluated. • A composite indicator considering private and public transport is developed. • Spatial distribution of the accessibility reduction is assessed. • Relative access capability value for each census section using TOPSIS is obtained. • Analysis reveals that LEZ reduces access capability levels across municipality. Low Emission Zones (LEZ) aim at preventing access to these areas for vehicles with combustion engines. However, these measures also generate negative impacts on mobility, as the increase in travel times. This research measures the increase of the access travel time level resulting from the prohibition of private vehicle circulation following the implementation of Madrid’s LEZ, analyzing how this reduction is spatially distributed. We calculate the access capability by private and public transport jointly through a developed composite indicator. Results show that, on average, access capability level in terms of travel time to the city center -experienced by individuals whose vehicles are restricted- decreases by 64.82% with a spatially non-uniform reduction. Spatial analysis demonstrates significant spatial autocorrelation and low monotonic relationships have been observed between the access capability reduction and variables as income, distance to the center, and population.