A recent study by the city’s Health Department shows that congestion pricing has had little impact on air quality following its implementation. 

According to the study, after the $9 Manhattan toll zone was first applied, air quality barely changed and pollution levels were “not significantly different than they would have been without the program.” 

Despite the 11% decrease in the number of vehicles entering the FDR Drive and West Side Highway, the study indicates that traffic accounts for a fraction of air pollution. 

“Traffic is part of the equation and there are certainly things we want the city and state to do to further drive down traffic and try to get more directly address air pollution from traffic,” Patrick McClellan, policy director at the New York League of Conservation Voters, said. 

“But there are other causes out there as well that we need to be at looking at holistically when we look at air quality in New York City,” he added. 

A spokesman for Gov. Kathy Hochul maintained that other studies show the air getting cleaner. 

“Every data point says the same thing: congestion pricing is working. Several studies of air quality have shown reduced pollution in the zone and stable or improving air quality throughout the region, exceeding all expectations,” the spokesperson said. 

There had been a concern that air quality would worsen in the South Bronx, with drivers looking to avoid the tolls on roads like the Major Deegan Expressway. 

In May, a study from a Columbia University Ph.D. student had said congestion pricing was causing an increase in the average amount of particulate matter. However, the MTA disputed those findings. 

Now, the study from the city found traffic on the Major Deegan and Cross Bronx expressways decreased after congestion pricing and that pollution levels would not be significantly different without it. 

“What this study is showing is that there’s really no evidence that this has happened,” McClellan said. 

More than $100 million in toll revenue is dedicated for air improvement projects. 

“As this study confirms, that didn’t happen, and congestion pricing is already funding additional investments to further improve air quality,” MTA Chairman Janno Lieber said.