Politics · United States · 4 hrs ago
New York congestion toll linked to 13% lower fine-particle pollution
New York City began charging most vehicles entering Manhattan south of 60th Street on January 5, 2025.
The toll aims to reduce traffic and raise money for public transit, and it was the first program of its kind in the United States.
In its first year, traffic entering the zone fell by roughly 11% compared with 2024, with fewer vehicles during rush hours.
Researchers found that fine-particle pollution was lower in 2025 than in the three previous years, especially at monitoring sites in lower Manhattan.
Because pollution had also been falling for other reasons, the team compared locations inside and outside the zone and accounted for weather and seasonal changes.
After those adjustments, pollution inside the zone was about 13% lower than expected.
The findings may help other cities considering similar tolls, but the study describes the reduction as modest.
New York City’s congestion pricing program was linked to about 13% lower fine-particle pollution inside its Manhattan zone during its first year.
The program began on January 5, 2025, and charges most vehicles entering Manhattan south of 60th Street.
Traffic entering the zone through the Queens Midtown and Brooklyn Battery tunnels dropped by roughly 11% in 2025 compared with 2024.
Researchers compared air-quality readings inside and outside the zone and accounted for weather and seasonal patterns.
The study used readings from 15 monitoring sites in the New York City Community Air Survey.
- Who
- Researchers studying New York City’s congestion pricing program, including Daniel M. Westervelt and Polina Goldberg.
- What
- The program was linked to about 13% lower fine-particle pollution in its zone during its first year.
- When
- The program took effect on January 5, 2025. The article was published on October 11, 2026.
- Where
- Manhattan south of 60th Street, within the congestion pricing zone.
- Why
- The toll was designed to ease traffic and raise money for public transit.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
For the most part, the program appears to be working
It reduced particulate pollution inside the congestion zone by a modest amount.
A full year of data helps us see whether changes in air quality remain consistent across all seasons and different weather conditions
New York City’s congestion pricing program took effect.
Traffic into the zone through the Queens Midtown and Brooklyn Battery tunnels dropped by roughly 11% compared with 2024.
Earth.com published its report on the study’s first-year findings.
- Pollution change
- About 13% lower fine-particle pollution inside the zone than expected during the first year
- Program start
- January 5, 2025
- Zone
- Manhattan south of 60th Street
- Traffic change
- Roughly 11% fewer vehicles entered the zone through two tunnels in 2025 than in 2024
- Monitoring sites
- 15 New York City Community Air Survey sites
Sources
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