2026-03-22 14:20
publication
2026-03-22 14:20
The Mayor of Krakow, Aleksander Miszalski, expressed hope that the draft resolution correcting the rules of the applicable clean transport zone (SCT) will be ready in the fall, after sectoral and public consultations, and that the corrections will enter into force from January 1, 2027.
In an interview with PAP, Aleksander Miszalski emphasized that two corrections resulting from the judgment of the Provincial Administrative Court (WSA) will become effective immediately, unless the Małopolska Voivode appeals against the judgment. It's about access to medical facilities and the criteria of residence.
If the Provincial Administrative Court's judgment becomes final, drivers of all cars, regardless of production date or exhaust emission standards, will be able to travel free of charge to any medical facility, not only those that – as current regulations assume – have a signed contract with the National Health Fund. The definition of a resident of Krakow in the context of SCT will also change – currently it is a person registered in the city and paying taxes there. After the Provincial Administrative Court's judgment becomes final, the resident will be a person who pays taxes in the city, and does not necessarily have to be registered there.
The remaining corrections presented by Miszalski in the first half of March are to be included in the draft resolution correcting the SCT rules. The president's proposals may change as a result of consultations – first sectoral (industry), and then public (for all interested parties). The final shape of the corrective resolution will also be influenced by councilors' amendments.
– I assume that we will complete this process in the fall. I think that the principles of the new resolution will come into force from January 1, said the mayor of Krakow.
The president's directional proposals include: excluding access to all park & ride parking lots from SCT requirements; abolition of the obligation to register motorcycles in the SCT system; transfer of the right to exemption from fees to the closest person in the family inheriting the vehicle from the owner who has such rights (for residents of Krakow); simplification of procedures for obtaining SCT exemptions; extending the current exemption rules to residents of Krakow who became car owners by the end of 2025.
As for fees, yes the president's proposals are as follows: :
- maintaining the current level of SCT fees in the second and third year of the zone's validity, i.e. in 2027 and 2028 (fee until the end of the day – PLN 5, monthly subscription – PLN 100);
- abolition of the obligation to pay fees for people in the most difficult financial situation for the entire Lesser Poland Voivodeship;
- providing sellers with free access to all market squares;
- abolition of the obligation to pay fees for entrepreneurs and public benefit organizations that have their registered office in Krakow and have a car registered here.
Miszalski emphasized that the changes he proposed are the result of analyzes of the problems reported by Krakow residents in the first few weeks of SCT's operation. As he noted, Kraków was the first city in Poland to introduce SCT on such a scale. Officials were in a hurry to prepare the regulations by January 1, 2026.
– With this type of complicated processes, there are certain gaps and certain errors that need to be corrected later, said Miszalski, emphasizing that the aim of the corrections is primarily to facilitate the functioning of Krakow.
Among the current difficulties he mentioned, among others: excessive bureaucratic burden, e.g. the lack of automatic renewal of the registration of a vehicle that does not meet the SCT rules. He emphasized that the corrections are intended to make life and work easier for residents of neighboring communes who believe that the current SCT is too restrictive and unfair for them.
When asked about the effects of SCT so far, Miszalski replied: – Everyone I talk to says that traffic jams are a bit smaller.
He added that it is not possible now to talk about the effects of improving air quality, because this requires the results of nitrogen dioxide concentration tests. Officials predict that the concentration of this dust could be reduced by 50%. within three years, and perhaps 10-15 percent within the first year.
At the same time, Miszalski he noticed that vehicles emitting the highest levels of harmful substances are still driving around the city – this is the result of exempting residents with non-ecological cars from the rules and allowing old cars to be entered for a fee.
The president was asked about the rebellion of part of society, manifested, among others, by: destroying signs informing about SCT, he said that emotions were calming down.
The clean transport zone has been in force in the capital of Małopolska since January 1 this year. It covers most of the city. Drivers of vehicles that do not meet SCT requirements must pay to enter it. Residents of Krakow who purchased a car before June 26, 2025 are exempt from fees.
Vehicles with exhaust emission standards specified in the resolution of the city council can enter the SCT in Krakow free of charge. In the case of petrol and LPG cars, it is at least Euro 4 or production in at least 2005, and in the case of diesel cars – at least Euro 6 (passenger cars and trucks) or production no earlier than 2014 (passenger cars) or 2012 (trucks).
Beata Kołodziej (PAP)
bko/ joz/
