Particle pollution in New York City decreased significantly since congestion pricing tolls went into effect in January and had a "spillover" benefit to Long Island, researchers at Cornell University found — a result that proponents cited as a significant success for the program.

The effects were found not just within the congestion zone below 60th Street, but in all five boroughs and, to a lesser extent, the surrounding metropolitan region.

Timothy Fraser, the lead author of the study, told Newsday in an email that particle pollution on Long Island declined by nearly 10% as drivers changed their routes or took public transportation. That improvement in air quality was almost exactly the same as in the outer boroughs.

"This indicates that Long Island is also seeing some spillover air qua

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