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REMARKS
Council Member Williams discusses the TRUCKS Act for overnight truck parking
0:09:26
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3 min
Council Member Nantasha M. Williams presents her remarks on Intro 99, also known as the TRUCKS Act, which aims to establish overnight parking areas for commercial vehicles within industrial business zones (IBZs). She outlines the bill's purpose, key provisions, and planned revisions based on stakeholder feedback.
- The bill addresses the issue of commercial trucks parking illegally in residential areas due to lack of legal overnight parking options.
- Key provisions include community engagement, outreach to truck drivers, and annual effectiveness reports.
- Planned revisions include clarifying eligible vehicles, expanding notification requirements, and adding a sunset provision for program review.
Nantasha M. Williams
0:09:26
Good morning.
0:09:27
Thank you so much chair Brooks Powers, esteemed colleagues and representatives from the Department of Transportation.
0:09:32
First I want to extend my sincere thanks to our committee chair majority whip, Selvina Brooks Powers for allowing me the opportunity to speak on intro 99, the truck act, and for her leadership on transportation infrastructure issues that impact New Yorkers every day.
0:09:49
As we all know, commercial trucks are the lifeline of our city responsible for transporting 90% of goods across the five boroughs.
0:09:58
However, due to federally mandated hours of service regulations, truck operators are often left with nowhere to legally park overnight, forcing them into residential neighborhoods where they create congestion, disrupt communities and risk hefty fines.
0:10:15
The TRUCS Act offers a common sense solution.
0:10:18
This bill would require the Department of Transportation to establish overnight parking areas for commercial commercial vehicles within industrial business zones, spaces already designed to accommodate trucking activity between eight p.
0:10:31
M.
0:10:32
And six a.
0:10:32
M.
0:10:33
Only commercial vehicles would be permitted to park in these designated areas helping to clear our neighborhood streets and reduce the environmental and quality of life burdens on our communities.
0:10:43
This bill also recognizes the importance of community engagement before any overnight parking area is established DOT will be required to consult with community boards representing the IBZ to ensure that local voices are heard.
0:10:59
Additionally, DOT will be tasked with conducting outreach to commercial entities and truck drivers to inform them of these designated areas and annual reports will measure the effectiveness of these spaces in curbing illegal truck parking.
0:11:14
Over the past several months I have engaged with many of you as well as key stakeholders in the trucking industry and the industrial business community to refine this legislation.
0:11:26
Based on the valuable feedback I have received, I plan to incorporate several revisions including clarifying the laws purpose to ensure it is focused on overnight parking for delivery trucks serving IBZs rather than allowing all day truck parking, specifying the types of vehicles eligible class three to seven trucks to prevent misuse by non commercial or inactive vehicles, expanding advisory notification requirements to include IBZ specific evaluations that assess safety lighting and enforcement consideration establishing a five year sunset provision for the program to allow for future review and renewal by the council and then providing DOT with implementation flexibility including options such as overnight parking meters or authorized permit systems to manage space you should usage effectively.
0:12:14
I look forward to today's discussion and to hearing from DOT and my colleagues on how we can further strengthen this initiative to meet the needs of both truck operators and the communities they serve.
0:12:25
Thank you again for your time and consideration and I look forward to working together to move this legislation.