nymtc regional freight plan - New York Metropolitan Transportation ...

A Freight Plan for the NYMTC Region
Therefore, the single tunnel system will reduce future freight truck trips on the two
crossings by 8.5 percent. The double tunnel system will reduce truck trips on the two
bridges by 666,000 or about 14 percent, plus another 334,000 at the other crossings combined.
Counterbalancing this regional reduction in freight truck trips, the siting of an intermodal
yard at Maspeth, Queens will increase the freight truck trips in the vicinity of the Yard.
Other Impacts
The tunnels and associated rail improvements involve some physical barriers to construction
and would result in some adverse environmental impacts, both during construction
and subsequently in at least the localized area around the improvement. The development
of an intermodal yard at Maspeth would involve land takings and increased local
truck traffic but also would generate new business activity in the vicinity. The package as
a whole, however, is expected to result in significant environmental and economic benefits
from the regional truck diversion to rail. The projects would improve regional connectivity
primarily in the Northern and Southern Crossing corridors. The most significant
institutional barriers are the lack of a dedicated funding source and the difficulty of
coordinating among bi-state entities and private railroad operators. The projects would
introduce railroad technology to the East-of-Hudson region that already is common in
many parts of the country.
Responsible Organization/Action Plan
NYCEDC – Complete the EIS.
• 5.4 Goal #4 – Improve the Reliability and Overall
Movement of Freight in the Region by Expanding
Alternatives for Trucks and Other Vehicles
5.4.1 Strategy 4.A – Address Deficiencies in Select Regional Freight Corridors
The NYMTC Freight Plan identifies the region’s important highway freight corridors and
the major deficiencies of each. However it does not include a detailed analysis of each of
these corridors or recommend specific improvements to address deficiencies. Portions of
these corridors already are being studied by the agencies concerned. The five core corridors
focused on this report are:
1. The Northern Crossing corridor;
2. The Southern Crossing corridor;
3. The Eastern (I-278) corridor;
4. The Eastern (I-678) corridor; and
5. The JFK Airport and Industrial Access corridors.
Cambridge Systematics, Inc. 5-36