QUESTION
Council Member Rafael Salamanca Asks EDC About Freight Movement and Asthma Concerns in Hunts Point
1:32:50
·
4 min
Council Member Rafael Salamanca raises questions about the Freight NYC program, waterfront development in Hunts Point, and its potential to alleviate truck traffic and its impact on asthma rates. He inquires about the energy consumption of ships stationed at Hunts Point and EDC's studies on the matter. EDC explains ongoing efforts with US DOT to create a marine highway network to reduce road congestion and discusses plans for environmental reviews and maritime freight movement towards decarbonization.
Speaker 9
1:32:50
My question more to EDC, for straight seeing you.
1:32:54
It's more on the waterfront in Hunts Point.
1:32:59
We have a No.
1:33:01
Freight NYC.
1:33:02
Freight NYC.
1:33:03
I'm sorry.
1:33:03
It's something that EDC is interested in.
1:33:07
No.
1:33:07
They're not has moved, but there has been many conversations.
1:33:12
And there I know that in the waterfront of Hunt's point, for example, we have a cement company.
1:33:19
Cole McGinnis that comes in once a month, and they bring cement from Canada.
1:33:25
Powder, then it goes into this.
1:33:27
I guess they process it, and it goes back out.
1:33:31
The community was extremely supportive because it eliminated 1000 and 1000 of truck miles coming into Hunt's point in and out.
1:33:39
A postal now is just you're just going out.
1:33:43
But this the cement truck is stationed there for a long period of time.
1:33:47
Do we know that as EDC ever done a study as to the amount of energy that they are using to be stationed there?
Speaker 7
1:33:56
Counsel number, always a pleasure to see you.
1:33:58
Nice to you today.
1:33:59
I'm gonna pass that question to our head of transportation and all albeit subject matter expert.
Speaker 6
1:34:07
Andrew?
1:34:07
Yes.
1:34:09
Counsel member, we are I I did wanna say we have been working with the the owner of the McGinnis site.
1:34:16
And the neighbors to to really look at something innovative, which is a marine highway landing at that location.
1:34:25
So that we can further reduce truck trips into and out of the peninsula.
1:34:32
As to the question about Maybe I need a little clarification.
1:34:37
Do you are you referring to the vessel that comes down from Canada with the cement powder?
Speaker 10
1:34:42
Yes.
Speaker 6
1:34:44
That is a private terminal, so we would have to look into the amount of time it stays at birth.
1:34:52
At that location and understand better, you know, how much its requirements are.
1:34:59
Usually, those dry bulk vessels do not have a very high power requirement when at birth.
1:35:04
They're not like passenger vessels that are base you know, that have all sorts of, you know, HVAC systems.
1:35:12
Those vessels are much much less power intensive.
Speaker 9
1:35:18
Understood.
1:35:19
But I, you know, I as we we're having these conversations on vessels in our waterfronts.
1:35:26
You know, I'm I'm I'm I'm I'm I know that Consumor Mapulos has a high asthma rate district, so do I, in my consul district.
1:35:34
Say this often, I have to walk around with my asthma pump with me just in case because I live in a community, so I'm an asthmatic because of the environment there.
1:35:43
And just finally, are there any plans for the freight NYC, freight NYC program because I've heard about it for many years, but that's all it's been.
1:35:54
It's just powerful presentations.
Speaker 6
1:35:56
Yeah.
1:35:56
Well, maybe some updates you know, we we have been working with US DOT, the maritime administration, on a grant that will connect 6 landings.
1:36:07
Mostly on the East River, but including Oak Point in the Bronx, the the site next to McGinnis, to create a marine highway network that'll include sites in Manhattan, the 23rd Street, Skyport Marina, Pier 36, and the downtown heliport, as well as the 25th Street and 29th Street peers in Sunset Park.
1:36:30
And next week, we will we've issued a request for proposals for the engineering and design and environmental review for that system.
1:36:40
So in addition to that, we have see the results of the joint EDC Department of Transportation request for expressions of interest.
1:36:51
For the blue highway program writ large.
1:36:54
And we were very excited because we have gotten a robust response to that from some very large entities, freight entities, maritime companies that are interested in using the waterways for moving freight and decongest our roadways and decarbonizing as well.
1:37:13
So there's a lot there's a lot of good news and a lot of movement that you know, we're happy to share.
Speaker 9
1:37:21
Well, I look forward to that type of presentation as soon as possible.
1:37:26
Alright.
1:37:26
Thank you, manager.
Speaker 1
1:37:29
Thank you, Consuelo.
Speaker 2
1:37:31
Great.