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Q&A
Overview of freight transportation challenges in NYC
0:42:19
ยท
5 min
Council Member Gennaro discusses the increase in freight movement in NYC and distinguishes between last-mile delivery and through traffic. He expresses interest in increasing marine and rail transport to reduce truck traffic.
- 90% of NYC's goods move by truck, higher than the national average of 70%
- Projected 43% increase in freight by 2045, from 300 million to 430 million tons
- Gennaro emphasizes the need to address both last-mile delivery and trucks passing through the city
- Reference made to a 2021 study called 'Delivering Green' about upgrading rail infrastructure
Jim Gennaro
0:42:19
Okay.
0:42:19
Thank you for that.
0:42:27
And And you made reference in your statement, Commissioner, that, you know, 90% of the city's goods move by a truck, higher than the national average of 70.
0:42:45
And and and in the same paragraph, by 02/1945, New York is gonna have a 43% increase in freight, 430,000,000 tons up from 300,000,000 today.
0:43:00
That's a lot.
0:43:01
And and and this kinda two transportation there's kinda two freight things going on.
0:43:19
There's the last mile and everything involved with, you know, the re, with real, you know, detailed process of what goes on at these fulfillment centers versus trucks that are just transversing the city.
0:43:40
I mean, they're coming from Pennsylvania or wherever, and their destination is Suffolk County.
0:43:48
So all of that would be included in the figure that you cite here.
0:43:52
Would that be accurate?
0:43:55
And so, I think one of the things that we have to parse and I, you you know that I have an interest in this, is to sort of how to figure out a way, as you made good reference to, by increase our marine transport as well as rail freight.
0:44:24
I know that, I don't know if you mentioned in your statement or not, but they made reference to what the staff did in the briefing paper, in the very detailed briefing paper that they prepared for this hearing.
0:44:37
There was a study that was called delivering green from 2021, and that was about DOT and EDC and upgrading old rail spurs and doing what they can to create the intermodal reality that would increase rail freight that is just moving through New York City.
0:45:12
And you mentioned some of that in your statement.
0:45:17
I'm just wondering if you're willing to go a little further.
0:45:20
You mentioned 60 and other things, but if you could, you know, expand upon that a little bit, that'd be helpful.
Rohit Aggarwala
0:45:26
Let me just say Exactly.
Jim Gennaro
0:45:28
Because I'm drawing the distinction, you know, between, you know, someone like council member Aviles, who is, you know, has a lot of this going on right outside her front door, and, you know, Selvina Brooks Powers and other council members who see the network of little trucks going all over the place and queuing and everything else, and, you know, the issue of just figuring out how we, you know, deal with a rate that is just traversing New York City.
0:45:59
It's not gonna land here, it's not gonna go here, it's just passing through, and, you know, to the extent that we can use rail and or barge or what, God bless you.
0:46:13
So, that's sort of getting at how we because I I think we got a good handle, you know, on the last mile.
0:46:22
I think we're well on our way on that one.
0:46:27
But I'd like to, you know, also focus some energy, perhaps in future legislation or future cooperation on how we can incentivize, you know, rail and water to play a larger role, even though it goes beyond your own particular purview.
0:46:51
But, you know, well, as DEP commissioner, but as chief climate officer, that's where I can get you, you know?
0:46:59
And so what do you think about that?
Rohit Aggarwala
0:47:02
Well, certainly, let me I'll ask my colleague Don Miller to speak in greater detail.
Jim Gennaro
0:47:09
And I also know that the administration has been like jumping through hoops to try to give me like a personal, you know, briefing on this, you you know, between having flu type a if you gotta choose a flu, don't choose type a.
0:47:27
I've been there, done that.
0:47:29
Go for b or just don't congregate in rooms like this with other people.
0:47:36
The flu does not get nearly the respect it deserves.
0:47:42
So, you know, I've been sort of out of action, and I'd like to thank the administration for being like very assiduous.
0:47:51
I'm like, oh, I can't do it well.
0:47:53
They're like, how about tomorrow?
0:47:54
So, appreciate the, you know, the the the zeal with which the administration wants to bring to the table.
0:48:02
But, you know, just a couple of nuggets of information on that in in in in front of those assembled here and watching on the livestream, the millions who are watching on the livestream right now.
0:48:15
So, it's all yours, Commissioner.
Rohit Aggarwala
0:48:17
Alright.