Date: October 30, 2007
Source: News Room
Schumer To Host Truck Traffic Summit In An Effort To Keep Noisy, Dangerous NYC Garbage Trucks From Rolling Through Finger Lakes Communities And Hurting Quality Of Life
Schumer to Hold Meeting with NYC Department of Sanitation and IESI Haulers to Create Tracking System, Establish Enforceable Agreement, to Keep NYC Garbage Trucks off Small Roads and Out of Towns in Finger Lakes Region
Each Day, Scores of IESI Garbage Trucks Traveling from NYC to Upstate Landfills Cut through Finger Lakes Communities to Avoid Paying Tolls and Extra Gas Money
Schumer: First Step to Eradicating Truck Traffic Problem in Finger Lakes Region is to Create an Accountable System to Keep NYC Garbage Trucks Off Rural Roads and Get Them Back on the Interstates
With scores of trucks carrying NYC solid waste dangerously driving through Finger Lakes communities everyday, today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that he is hosting a meeting between the NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) and IESI, the major truck hauler under contract with DSNY to transport garbage through the region. The meeting follows Schumer's call to NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg seeking his support crafting a solution to the problem of NYC waste haulers taking short cuts through rural roads in Central New York. Schumer's upcoming meeting with DSNY and IESI will focus on brokering a deal that puts into place a real-time tracking system to keep sanitation trucks off local roads and out of communities across the Finger Lakes and Central New York. The move follows recent efforts by community leaders, including State Senator John DeFrancisco, to pressure the City of New York and Mayor Bloomberg to force trucks hauling NYC waste to use interstate highways.
Currently, in order to avoid paying tolls, or to save money on gas, trucks traveling from NYC to landfills in Upstate New York leave the interstates, that are better equipped to handle their weight and size, in favor of small country roads that wind in and out of the Finger Lakes-Central New York region. The trucks harm the region's quality of life by exuding foul odors and noise, create safety problems and cause considerable wear and tear on roads designed for local traffic.
"It's no secret that garbage trucks originating in New York City are circumventing the state's highway system and dangerously driving through communities across the Finger Lakes, leaving behind a trail of fumes, noise, and worn-down infrastructure that diminishes the rural region's quality of life," said Senator Schumer. "Today, the good news is that I've secured the cooperation of Mayor Bloomberg, the NYC Department of Sanitation and IESI to meet to hammer out an enforceable agreement that will keep these garbage trucks off our local roads and put them back on the major highways where they belong. The goal of this meeting is to create a system rooted in accountability so we know these garbage haulers are living up to their end of the bargain."
Every day, over 200 5-axle single-trailer trucks transport solid waste from New York City to landfills in Central New York and the Finger Lakes region. However, trucks can often be seen on country roads evading a toll or weigh station. In order to avoid paying tolls, or to save a few extra dollars on gas, these trucks leave the larger, better-kept interstates that can handle their weight and size in favor of smaller country roads. While the waste hauling companies save only minimal funds, it burdens local communities in terms of noise, deteriorating roads and significant safety concerns.
In addition, local residents are concerned that the giant trucks will clog and strain smaller roads that aren't constructed to handle trucks of their size and cause a hazard for local drivers.
IESI is the largest garbage truck company that hauls trash from New York City to the Seneca Meadows landfill located in Upstate New York. IESI has the hauling contract, but subcontracts to trucking companies to do the actual hauling. According to a recent study by Wells College, 617 multi axle trucks were observed traveling through the town of Aurora, NY. Of multi axle trucks documented in the study, 322 were positively identified as waste haulers and nearly two-thirds were giant 18-wheel vehicles.
The current contract between the NYC Department of Sanitation and trucking agencies stipulates that, whenever possible, trucks should take routes that stay on primary highways and avoid local streets and residential areas. It also states that the contractor shall route trucks away from environmentally sensitive areas such as parks, historic sites, and wetlands to the maximum extent possible, in compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations. However, the contract does not force the trucking companies to abide by the spirit of the contract, and, presently, trucks have been straying away from the main highways in favor of utilizing local roads that cut through small towns and communities. In essence, the companies are taking advantage of the flexible language that creates a loophole within the contract.
Schumer today said a main goal in his upcoming meeting is to establish a system that can monitor and bring accountability to trucks hauling NYC waste that travel upstate. While New York City has indicated its desire to see its contracting firms abide by the letter and spirit of their contract, there is currently no monitoring in place to ensure that the trucks are sticking to the main interstates and avoiding local roads.
Schumer's office is currently locking down a date for the meeting which will be held in November.
"Trucking firms are circumventing the highway system, but our local communities are paying the price," Schumer added. "These trucks are evading highway tolls and weigh stations, and are instead driving on community streets and country roads. We need a system in place to ensure these trucks are fulfilling their promises and sticking to the main roads."
This summer, Schumer sent a letter to New York City Department of Sanitation Commissioner John J. Doherty urging him to work with local and state agencies to steer the garbage trucks away from these small roads and communities.
Schumer has been a longtime advocate for keeping trucks away from traveling through Central New York and the Finger Lakes communities. Last year he unveiled a three point plan to keep trucks on the highway and off of local roads. Earlier this year, Schumer introduced a bill requiring the states to designate permanent routes for trucks carrying hazardous materials and the long-distance transportation of solid waste. Schumer is urging that Interstate 90 (the Thruway) and Interstate 81 be designated as truck routes. These routes would be designed to keep trucks on large highways and interstates, and off of smaller local roads. Currently, states can choose to set up truck routes, but it is not mandatory.
Over 1.9 million trucks travel through Central New York and the Finger Lakes region every year carrying freight, but many drive on local roads as a shortcut and to avoid weigh stations, tolls and traffic. Throughout the past few years, there have been numerous accidents spilling fuel, garbage and chemicals, all posing a potential threat to the Onondaga County watershed and surrounding neighborhoods. In addition, the trucks disrupt communities at all hours of the day and night.
(schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/record.cfm?id=286376)
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