nymtc regional freight plan - New York Metropolitan Transportation ...

A Freight Plan for the NYMTC Region
Transportation Impacts
Adjustments to the truck route network can offer transportation benefits in all corridors
by ensuring that trucks move along the routes that are best able to accommodate them,
consistent with community needs. The impacts will not be known until NYCDOT develops
and analyzes recommendations.
Other Impacts
Improvements in regional connectivity and economic development could result from
more efficient truck routes. Changing truck routes could raise major community issues by
potentially opening up currently restricted routes to truck travel. In some cases, physical
barriers such as low clearances may be present.
Responsible Organization/Action Plan
1. NYCDOT – Complete study, revise truck route network and regulations accordingly,
and implement management plan.
2. NYCDOT – Following completion of the study, monitor industry compliance and
agency enforcement and assess impacts on traffic operations, local communities,
freight carriers, and shippers and receivers. For example, do general traffic operations
improve Is freight movement enhanced Are truck impacts on local communities
reduced
Action 2 – Address Alternatives for Providing Greater Access to National
Standard 53-Foot Tractor Trailers on the Region’s Highways
Description
Presently, as shown in Figure 5.1, only one route is designated across New York City for
through movements of interstate tractor-trailer equipment. This is the Northern Crossing
corridor of the Hudson River, including the George Washington Bridge and I-95 Cross
Bronx Expressway (CBE), the Throgs Neck Expressway (I-695) and Throgs Neck Bridge
(I-295) connecting to the Long Island Expressway (I-495). Interstate standard trucks are
currently not allowed to serve origins or destinations within the City of New York.
Creating additional routes for interstate standard trailers could be achieved by a
combination of removing physical constraints (such as the low clearances on the
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) and by allowing trucks on key connecting parkways
such as the Grand Central – which also would require removal of physical constraints.
Some of these options are discussed in more detail under specific projects below.
Cambridge Systematics, Inc. 5-9