Analyzing and Evaluating the Harmful Influence of Transport on the Environment in the Urban Areas

Like any major city with growing population, Sofia has also faced the big issue of intensify­ing automobile traffic and significant worsening of the qualities of the environment. Automobiles are one of the primary pollutants in an urban en­vironment, emitting over 200 harmful substances as a result of burning liquid fuels derived from petroleum. Traffic jams that are increasingly satu­rating the urban environment, and not just in the so-called rush hour, contribute significantly to the complication of this problem. In addition, they are the reason for the increase in noise, the rising number of traffic accidents and the loss of time in the prolonged movement from one point to anoth­er. At present, the effect from the development of subway lines and the overall improvement of road infrastructure in the city is minute because of the rule that additional capacity attracts additional means of transport. This draws more and more supporters to the idea that a new approach is necessary in the management and development of the city’s transport system. It is characterized by fewer investments in the expansion of road in­frastructure and a prevalent financing of alterna­tive transport solutions. In order for the measures to be effective, they have to be coordinated with the appropriate economic and tax policies.