“Congestion Pricing in New York: A Solution or a Burden for the South Bronx?”
The implementation of congestion pricing in New York City has sparked both praise and concern among community advocates in the South Bronx. While the program aims to reduce traffic and improve air quality in the city’s central business district, it is also projected to increase traffic and pollution in neighborhoods like the South Bronx, which is already facing environmental justice issues.
The South Bronx, where 95% of residents are Hispanic or Black and one-third live in poverty, has some of the highest rates of asthma and respiratory hospitalizations related to air pollution in the city. Community advocates, such as Mychal Johnson of South Bronx Unite, have raised concerns about the disproportionate impacts of congestion pricing on their neighborhood.
The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) began charging vehicles to enter Manhattan below 60th Street in January, with the goal of increasing public transportation ridership and generating revenue for transportation improvements. While the MTA’s environmental assessment projects a decrease in pollutants in the toll area, it also acknowledges that some neighborhoods, particularly environmental justice communities, may bear the brunt of increased traffic and pollution.
To address these concerns, the MTA has allocated $100 million for mitigation measures in affected neighborhoods, including installing air purifiers in schools, planting roadside vegetation, and creating an asthma treatment center in the Bronx. However, community advocates like Johnson feel that these measures are not sufficient to address the existing environmental health issues in their neighborhood.
Despite the MTA’s efforts to mitigate the impacts of congestion pricing, community advocates in the South Bronx continue to push for more comprehensive solutions to address the environmental injustices they face. As trucks continue to rumble through their neighborhood, they are calling for greater consideration of the health and well-being of residents who are already disproportionately affected by pollution and traffic congestion.