Overweight Truck Volume Down due to the
BQE’s Automated Program in NYC

New Program Brings Safer Roads and Longer-Lasting Infrastructure

The New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) has achieved a big win for road safety. Their new automated enforcement program, known as weigh-in-motion (WIM), has cut the number of overweight trucks on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway (BQE) by 64%. This program uses technology to make sure every overweight truck stays off a key part of the highway, keeping it safer and lasting longer.

How the Overweight Truck Program Works

NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez shared that the program uses special sensors in the road. These sensors weigh trucks as they drive over them. If a truck is too heavy, the program takes action to keep it off the road. This helps protect the triple cantilever part of the BQE, which is an important but aging section of Interstate Highway I-278. The automated enforcement program ensures every overweight truck is detected and managed effectively.

“New York City is leading the way by using these sensors to keep our roads safe,” said Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi. This technology helps make sure our roads last longer and stay safe for everyone, preventing every overweight truck from causing damage.

Big Drop in Numbers

The program is currently in place on the Queens-bound side of the BQE in downtown Brooklyn, called ‘BQE Central.’ In the first seven months, the average number of overweight vehicles dropped from 7,777 to 2,769 each month. Even though the total number of trucks stayed the same, the share of overweight trucks fell from 6.3% to 1.9%. This significant drop in volume highlights the program’s effectiveness.

Legislative Support and Future Plans for Overweight Truck Enforcement

The automated enforcement program was made possible by New York State lawmakers. State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon sponsored the law, which Governor Kathy Hochul signed in July 2023. The program’s success has led to plans to expand it to the Staten Island-bound side of the BQE by the end of 2024. Before it fully starts, there will be a 90-day warning period to let truck drivers know about the new rules regarding enforcement.

Praise from Local Leaders for Overweight Truck Program

Local leaders are happy with the program’s results. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso stressed how important it is to keep overweight trucks from damaging Brooklyn’s roads. Congressman Dan Goldman pointed out that the program has made roads safer for everyone by managing traffic effectively.

State Senator Gounardes and Assemblymember Simon are proud of the program’s success. “This big drop in overweight trucks shows that automated enforcement works,” said Senator Gounardes. Assemblymember Simon added that the program helps us rethink the BQE as a modern, cleaner transportation route by reducing overweight truck traffic.

Looking Ahead

The weigh-in-motion technology has worked well on the Queens-bound side of the BQE, and there are high hopes for similar success on the Staten Island side. Councilmember Lincoln Restler said that this technology has stopped many illegal overweight trucks and hopes it will do the same on the other side.

As NYC DOT rolls out this program further, the BQE and its nearby communities can expect safer roads and longer-lasting infrastructure. This program shows how using smart technology can lead to big improvements in urban transportation by effectively managing overweight truck traffic. Other cities can look to New York City’s example to see how to keep their roads safe and strong by reducing the impact of every overweight truck.