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AGENCY TESTIMONY
Challenges in shifting freight to rail and current rail usage
0:25:39
ยท
82 sec
Commissioner Aggarwala discusses the challenges faced in shifting freight back to rail and provides information on current rail usage in New York City. He also mentions recent investments in rail infrastructure.
- Trend has been away from rail and towards trucks over past decades
- Brooklyn and Queens moved 73,000 carloads per year in 1972, but only 17,000 in 2017
- Department of Sanitation is the biggest user of rail freight in NYC
- City owns three freight rail facilities and is investing in rail terminals
- $17 million Federal Railroad Administration grant awarded for Arthur Kill Lift Bridge upgrades
- Mention of Intro 941 to improve the citizen anti-idling program
Rohit Aggarwala
0:25:39
the efforts to shift back towards rail face challenges.
0:25:42
The trend, in fact, has been away from rail and towards trucks over the past several decades.
0:25:47
In 1972, Brooklyn and Queens moved 73,000 carloads per year, but in 2017, it was just 17,000 carloads.
0:25:56
The city, however, is leading by example.
0:25:58
The Department of Sanitation is actually the biggest user of rail freight in New York City today using it to export waste by rail.
0:26:05
The city owns three freight rail facilities, the Brooklyn Waterfront Rail System in Sunset Park, the Staten Island Railway right of way to the North And West Shore of Staten Island, and the rail facility in Hunts Point Food Market.
0:26:17
To support businesses use of freight rail, the city is continuing to invest in our rail terminals at the 60 Fifth Street rail yard, the First Avenue rail yard and the Arthur Kill Lift Bridge.
0:26:28
The lift bridge, is part of the Staten Island Railroad, was recently awarded a $17,000,000 Federal Railroad Administration grant for capital upgrades.
0:26:37
Finally, as you know, I hope the council acts on Intro nine forty one, which will improve the citizen anti idling program and make it far more effective and more impactful in low income neighborhoods where citizen enforcers have tended not to go.
0:26:52
I'm grateful for our discussions since that bill was heard last year and I hope a revised bill can be enacted soon along with a bill to increase fines.