Road pricing and air quality: how DC policies could affect health
Official title: Transportation, air quality, and health: a community-centered study of road pricing in Washington, DC.
Funded at George Washington University · NIH-11419192 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A community-centered study in Washington, DC examines how congestion pricing might change air quality and health for residents.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | George Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $230,673 |
| NIH project number | 5P20ES036775-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11419192 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are DC residents, especially those in neighborhoods with high traffic emissions and asthma or air pollution concerns.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not directly affected by traffic-related air pollution or without asthma may see less direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how road pricing could influence traffic, air pollution, and health in DC. Researchers will combine neighborhood input with data on NO2 and PM2.5 to understand potential benefits and unintended effects outside the pricing area. The work uses big data approaches to map emissions and health impacts and to inform policy decisions that could affect daily commuting and access to transportation. Results could guide city leaders in designing road pricing that improves air quality while minimizing harms to vulnerable communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could help implement road pricing in a way that improves air quality and reduces asthma-related burdens for DC residents.
How similar studies have gone: Policy-focused air quality studies have shown that targeted interventions can affect emissions and health, though effects may vary by location.
Where this research is happening
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George Washington University
Washington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Henneman, Lucas Richard Fath — George Washington University
- Study coordinator: Henneman, Lucas Richard Fath
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.