NYC Airport Public Health Surcharge

NYC Airport Public Health Surcharge

1. Fundamentals Brief (Policy Version)

A Targeted Public Health Surcharge for NYC Airports

A legally sound, high-impact strategy for mitigating aviation noise and pollution by leveraging NYC's authority over ground transportation.

Background: Aviation noise and emissions contribute to sleep disruption, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and cognitive harm. Nighttime operations (10 p.m.–7 a.m.) create the most health damage. Federal preemption prevents cities from regulating aircraft or airspace directly.

Solution: A tiered public health surcharge on taxi and ride-hail trips to/from JFK, LGA, and EWR. NYC’s ground-transportation market generates $9.1 billion annually—demonstrating both economic scale and public familiarity with transportation-related fees.

Revenue funds:

  • Sound-attenuating windows

  • School air purification

  • Home filtration systems

  • Community monitoring

This policy avoids FAA preemption because it regulates ground vehicles, not aircraft.

2. Three-Tier Surcharge Model

Tier

Day Surcharge

Night (10pm–7am)

Estimated Annual Revenue

Behavioral Impact

1 – Modest

$2

$4

$38M–$52M

Minimal airline impact

2 – Enhanced

$4

$12

$95M–$130M

Moderate nighttime deterrence

3 – Aggressive

$6

$20

$160M–$220M

Strong nighttime deterrence

Nighttime surcharges reflect higher public health harms.

3. Public Messaging Sheet

"Aviation keeps us awake. Now it can help pay to restore our health."

A few dollars added only to airport taxi/ride-hail trips funds:

  • Soundproofing for homes

  • Classroom air filters

  • Neighborhood health protections

NYC already spends $9.1 billion on taxi and ride-hail rides each year. A small fraction of airport travel can protect public health.

If planes cause the noise, airport trips help fund the fix.

4. Lawmaker Messaging Sheet

  1. Health-first approach — Revenue funds immediate, measurable improvements.

  2. Avoids federal preemption — Regulates only ground vehicles.

  3. Narrow and targeted — Affects airport travelers, not general taxpayers.

  4. Equitable — Helps communities under flight paths.

  5. Budget neutral — Self-funding.

  6. Politically viable — Aligns cost with activity generating the harm.

5. Health-Impact Expanded Brief

Health Impacts of Aviation Noise

  • WHO: Nighttime noise above 40 dB linked to sleep fragmentation, hypertension, heart disease.

  • NYC communities often experience 60–75+ dB.

  • Children exposed to chronic noise show reduced reading development and concentration.

Jet Emissions

  • Ultrafine particles penetrate deeply into lungs.

  • Linked to asthma, inflammation, and cardiovascular risks.

Why Nighttime Flights Are the Worst

  • Sleep interruption amplifies health risks.

  • Higher cortisol, impaired cognition, and long-term cardiovascular damage.

The surcharge aligns costs with harm by emphasizing higher nighttime rates.

6. Combined Advocacy Package Summary

The Case in One Page

NYC receives $9.1B in annual taxi/ride-hail activity. A small airport-focused fee creates a dedicated revenue stream to:

  • Protect children’s health

  • Improve sleep for hundreds of thousands

  • Fund citywide mitigation without raising broad taxes

Key Principle

Ground transport fees are legally independent of the FAA. This avoids preemption and makes the strategy both safe and effective.