Madrid Central

Madrid Central is a special area in the heart of Madrid designed to help keep the air clean. It was officially started on November 30, 2018. This area is meant to cut down on pollution caused by cars and traffic, since there isn’t much industry in the middle of the city.

The idea behind Madrid Central is to make the city healthier by limiting how many cars can enter this part of town. While Madrid was not the first city in Spain to try this, other places like Pontevedra had already created similar areas by making their centers mostly for people walking. Not long after, Barcelona also planned to start its own low-emission zone in early 2020.

Even though Madrid Central was an important step for cleaner air, it has faced some challenges. By 2024, a court decision had changed parts of the plan, making it smaller than first intended. Still, the zone remains a key part of Madrid’s efforts to fight pollution and improve the environment for everyone living there.

History

Before Madrid Central began, the city made it harder for cars to drive around and easier for people who lived there to park.

Madrid Central started on November 30, 2018, after being approved earlier that year. Only electric or hybrid cars were allowed inside, except for people who lived there or were visiting. This helped lower harmful gases in the air.

Even though it worked well, some politicians wanted to change it. During elections in May 2019, a group called the Partido Popular said they would stop Madrid Central if they won. After they won, the new mayor talked about a different plan called Madrid 360.

When the coronavirus started in March 2020, travel became very limited to keep people safe. This also helped reduce air pollution because fewer cars were on the road and many people worked from home.

Perimeter

Madrid Central is a special area in the center of Madrid that covers 472 hectares. The edges of this area are formed by several streets and walkways, including Alberto Aguilera Street, Carranza Street, Sagasta Street, Genoa Street, Paseo de Recoletos, Paseo del Prado, Ronda de Atocha, Ronda de Valencia, round of Toledo, Gran Vía de San Francisco, Bailén street, Plaza de España, Princesa street, and Serrano Jover street.