Overview
- Average daily peak PM2.5 in the toll zone declined by 3.05 µg/m³ from January through June 2025, according to findings published in npj Clean Air.
- Air quality also improved beyond the zone, with average declines of 1.07 µg/m³ across the five boroughs and 0.70 µg/m³ across the wider metropolitan area.
- Vehicle entries into the zone fell about 11% under a $9 peak toll, including an 18% drop in heavy‑duty trucks and a 9% decline in passenger cars.
- The study analyzed daily data from 42 air monitors over 518 days, integrating traffic, demographic and meteorological information with statistical modeling.
- Researchers reported larger pollution reductions than those documented in Stockholm and London, indicating strong behavior shifts in New York.