Article 56

Traffic Control Measures in Port Land Areas

1. Measures concerning traffic regulation, the designation of one-way streets, bike lanes, and traffic directions, right-of-way, changes to the cross-section of the roadway or street, the designation and operation of vehicle parking areas, and, in general, the designation of parking areas totaling up to one hundred fifty (150) square meters in total, and the imposition of traffic or parking restrictions or prohibitions in ports of local importance in accordance with Article 21 of Law 3450/2006 (A’64), are adopted following a traffic study. The traffic studies referred to herein shall be reviewed by the technical services of the relevant agencies or, in the absence thereof, by the technical services of the relevant municipalities or regions.

2. With regard to tourist ports within the country, the measures set forth in paragraph 1 shall be implemented in accordance with the contents of a study prepared by the administrative and operating authority, accompanied by a sworn statement by the consultant pursuant to Article 8 of Law 1599/1986 (A’75), by the engineer, certifying that its content complies with the relevant provisions in force at the time. This study, together with the designer’s sworn statement, is submitted to the Secretary General of the relevant Decentralized Administration, to the Secretary General for Tourism Policy and Development of the Ministry of Tourism, to the Committee on Tourist Ports under Article 30 of Law 2160/1993 (A’ 118), to the Secretary General for Shipping and Ports of the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy, provided that the tourist port falls wholly or partly within a port zone designated pursuant to Act No. 2344/1940 (A’ 154), Legislative Decree 444/1970 (A’ 39), or Law 2971/2001 (A’ 285), and to the relevant port authority for their information.

3. If the implementation of the measures set forth in paragraph 1 affects public road transportation services, in the case of local ports referred to in paragraph 1, the studies must also receive the approval of the Athens Urban Transport Organization (OASA) for the area under its jurisdiction, or by the Regional Directorates of Transportation and Communications for other areas of the country; whereas, in the case of the tourist ports referred to in paragraph 2, the designer’s sworn statement must include a specific mention that the measures taken based on the study do not cause any disruption to the provision of these services.

4. Based on the study referred to in paragraph 2, the following may be designated in accordance with paragraph 17 of Article 112, within ports: tourist ports and ports where the management and operating entity is a legal entity under private law, pedestrian walkways or areas reserved exclusively for pedestrians or persons with disabilities, or low-traffic zones. Where the implementation of the measures referred to in the preceding paragraph affects public transit services, paragraph 3.

5. The measures taken pursuant to this article shall take effect upon the installation of the relevant traffic signs, traffic signals, or road markings, unless, during the period in which these measures are in effect, traffic is regulated by the port authority.

6. Following the preparation of a traffic study, ports of international interest, national importance, and major interest are permitted, in accordance with the port classification set forth in Article 21 of Law 3450/2006, to implement traffic regulations, such as designating one-way streets, changes in road use, the designation of traffic directions and right-of-way, changes to road cross-sections or roadways, signage, road markings, the imposition of traffic or parking restrictions or prohibitions, and traffic signalization.

The traffic studies included herein are reviewed by the technical departments of the relevant agencies or, in the absence thereof, by the technical departments of the relevant municipalities or regions. For ports for which a traffic study is submitted, approval of the Development Program and Management Plan (Master Plan) must be obtained first.

7. If a port is of international interest, of national significance, or of major interest, as defined in Article 21 of Law 3450/2006, does not have a Master Plan, it is possible, following the preparation of a traffic study, to approve, on an exceptional basis, traffic regulations for the designation of one-way streets, traffic directions, right-of-way, signage, road markings, traffic or parking restrictions or prohibitions, and traffic signals. The traffic studies referred to herein are reviewed by the technical departments of the relevant agencies or, in their absence, by the technical departments of the relevant municipalities or regions.

8. If the implementation of the measures set forth in paragraphs 6 and 7 affects public road transportation services, the approval of the traffic regulations set forth in paragraphs 6 and 7, the opinion of the local public regular passenger transport provider or the first-level local government body that provides municipal public transportation is also required.

9. For the holding of races involving automobiles, four-wheeled vehicles, motorcycles, mopeds, bicycles, horse-drawn vehicles, and animals—which take place within the land area of a port or a portion thereof—a permit is required from the competent Port Management and Operation Authority.