New York City officials say a pedestrian plaza has led to “an immediate and substantial” improvement in air quality around the Times Square area.

The findings, released Wednesday, are from a Health Department air quality study.

The city estimates that a quarter-million pedestrians enter Times Square each day.

Over the past two years, the city has banned cars from parts of Times Square, Union Square and Herald Square.

It abandoned a plan for a pedestrian plaza in the middle of 34th Street. Businesses and residents had complained that drivers looking for alternate routes across Manhattan would increase traffic on side streets.