Please call Governor Kathy Hochul at 1-518-474-8390 and tell her we want:  

- Air Quality Sensors in the subway!

- Start upgrading infrastructure in the subways to reduce air pollution!

With re introduction of congestion pricing making it’s round in the news this is a perfect time to introduce this petition to put pressure on New York government to finally start cleaning up the dangerous air quality in the subways.

Average concentrations of fine-particle air pollution are 10 times higher on NYC subway platforms than the 24-hour guideline set by the World Health Organization, according to a new study.

-Bloomberg News August 7th, 2024 Article written by Maria Clara Cobo

First off let’s start with the not so secret elephant in the room: Hazardous air quality in the subways. Don’t believe me? Just use any search engine of your choice and type in “Air quality in the subway stations”. You should be able to find articles and videos covering this topic. Here’s a few links in the news:

NYC Subway Riders See ‘Exceptionally High’ Air Pollution

Subway air pollution disproportionately impacts New York City's minority and low-income commuters

Air pollution in NYC subway disproportionately impacts lower-income commuters, study says

Believe it or not there have been a few studies done about air quality in the subways that found hazardous air pollutants on the platforms and in the tunnels. They’re called pm2.5 (particulate matter 2.5 refers to the size of these particulates that are so small that when you breathe them in they can enter your bloodstream causing long and short term health effects). 

These studies found that subway air pollution disproportionately affects millions of lower-income commuters and will widen its scope when more people opt to take the subways to avoid paying the toll once congestion pricing goes into effect.

In addition to commuters this has also been a huge health hazard for anyone that works in the subway. MTA workers for example are already subjected to record number of assaults. Imagine going to work and having someone physically assault you or spit on you for no reason. On top of that the entire time you’re at work you are breathing in hazardous particles that will have negative health effects. Not to mention having rat infested work quarters with leaking ceilings, mold, asbestos…etc. Outside structures are not as safe as they seem either. Every time a train passes it kicks up fiberglass particles from old fiberglass walkways that any passenger on the station inhales and then it rains down fiberglass particles on unsuspecting public below. 

Nearly 90% of transit workers say they've been assaulted or harassed

-The Chief August 23rd, 2024. Article written by Crystal Lewis

So what can be done about this?

Hazardous air quality problem in the subways is a worldwide problem and there are solutions to this problem that should be implemented since MTA will be collecting more revenue with the implementation of congestion pricing.

     - Air quality monitors should be installed throughout the system to monitor dangerous air quality levels. This has been implemented in South Korea. Here’s a link to an article of how they installed 840 air quality sensors at 277 stations in Seoul.

    - Second article goes into how the infrastructure is upgraded to reduce the air pollution in Seoul metro

How Seoul Metro Improves Indoor Air Quality in Subway Stations

Seoul Metro initiates plans to reduce air pollution by over 30%

     - Infrastructure and ventilation can be updated to reduce the pm2.5 levels in the subway
     - Conduct studies on long and short term exposure to the hazardous air quality levels and enforce regulations to keep the riding public and any workers in the subway safe.
     - Provide proper PPE to anyone that works in the subway as well as the passengers until this issue is resolved.
     - Install AIR QUALITY MONITORS IN STATIONS AND TUNNELS so the workers and the riders are aware of air pollution levels. 

Please share this petition with everyone that takes the NYC transit.