Schumer Urges Governor Paterson To Use State Regulations To Keep Foul-Smelling, Garbage-Laden Trucks Off Local Roads In The Finger Lakes And Central Ny Regions And Back On Interstate Highways

Press Release

Schumer Urges Governor Paterson To Use State Regulations To Keep Foul-Smelling, Garbage-Laden Trucks Off Local Roads In The Finger Lakes And Central Ny Regions And Back On Interstate Highways

In Personal Phone Call, Schumer Secures Pledge from Governor Paterson to take a Fresh, Hard Look at Establishing Standard Routes for Trucks to Eradicate Garbage Truck Traffic Problem across the Finger Lakes and CNY Regions

Every Day, Scores of Out-of-Town Trucks Carrying Solid Waste Barrel Through Communities to Avoid Paying Tolls and Extra Gas Money, Creating Safety Issues, Damaging Quality of Life and Threatening Sensitive Watersheds

State Agencies have the Authority to Establish Standard Routes to Keep Non-Local Garbage Hauling Trucks on the Interstate Highway System and Off Local Roads; Similar Systems Already in Place in MA, PA, NYC and NJ

With scores of trucks hauling non-local solid waste dangerously driving on local rural roads that cut through the heart of Finger Lakes and Central New York communities, today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that he personally gained a pledge from Governor David Paterson to take a fresh, hard look at employing state regulations to force the garbage trucks to stay on the state's interstate highways. Every day non-local, garbage-laden trucks leave the interstates and cut through towns across the Finger Lakes region and Central New York to avoid paying interstate tolls and to save money on gas. The trucks jeopardize the region's quality of life by dangerously barreling down small rural roads unable to handle their weight, and by carrying noxious solid waste through quaint towns and near the region's numerous lakes, threatening vital drinking water sources like Lake Skaneateles.

Schumer, who last fall brokered a deal to encourage New York City waste haulers to stay off local roads, has repeatedly argued that the ultimate fix to keeping trucks off rural roads and forcing them back on to interstate highways is to have state environmental and traffic agencies establish standard truck routes. A truck routing system will force non-local, garbage-hauling trucks to use the state's highways.

Today Schumer announced that Governor Paterson was very receptive to the idea of exploring state environmental, traffic and law enforcement regulations to address the garbage-hauling truck traffic problem across the region.

"It's no secret that foul-smelling, out-of-town garbage trucks are circumventing the state's highway system and dangerously driving through communities across the Finger Lakes and Central New York, leaving behind a trail of fumes, noise, and worn-down infrastructure that diminishes the region's quality of life," said Senator Schumer. "In my call to him, Governor Paterson was sympathetic, knowledgeable of the problem and pledged to devote resources in several state agencies to examine the best tactics to protect the quality of life across the Finger Lakes region and Central New York. The silver bullet solution is to have state agencies establish standard truck routes to keep non-local, garbage-hauling trucks on the interstate highways and out of our local communities. The Governor was extremely supportive and pledged to explore all options to protect the region's quality of life. It was a breath of fresh air."

"These trucks have created a problem that desperately needs a solution," said Governor David Paterson. These Finger Lakes and Central New York residents deserve better. I have already begun to work with the New York State Department of Transportation and other state agencies to conduct a thorough review and find a solution that will not only preserve quality of life, but also protect the rights of businesses in New York State."

Currently, in order to avoid paying tolls, or to save money on gas, garbage trucks traveling from NYC to landfills in Upstate New York leave the interstates, that are better equipped to handle their weight and size, in favor of small country roads that wind in and out of the Finger Lakes-Central New York region. The trucks harm the region's quality of life by exuding foul odors and noise, create safety problems and cause considerable wear and tear on roads designed for local traffic. While the waste hauling companies save only minimal dollars, it burdens local communities in terms of noise, deteriorating roads and significant safety concerns.

Last fall, Schumer hosted a meeting between the NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) and IESI, the major truck hauler under contract with DSNY to transport garbage throughout the region. Schumer pushed the New York City waste haulers to live up to the spirit of their contracts which stipulates that they should take all steps to stay off local roads and instead use the interstate highway when hauling NYC waste to Upstate landfills. NYC also committed to structure its future contracts to require haulers to use only interstates.

However, the ultimate solution to alleviating non-local garbage truck traffic across the region rests in establishing standard routes via state regulations that delineate where such trucks can travel. Similar systems have already been employed in New York's neighboring states, and New York City has a truck route system, as well.

Schumer on Thursday called Governor Patterson to urge him to examine having the state implement its own truck routing system. The Governor was very receptive to the idea and promised to look into establishing such a system.

"These trucks are evading highway tolls and weigh stations, and are instead driving on community streets and country roads that wind along the region's lakes and cut through beautiful, historic towns. Governor Paterson made it crystal clear in our phone call that he is committed to ensuring that these trucks stick to the interstates," added Schumer.

Schumer has been a longtime advocate for keeping trucks away from traveling through Central New York and the Finger Lakes communities. Last year, Schumer introduced a bill requiring the states to designate permanent routes for trucks carrying hazardous materials and the long-distance transportation of solid waste.

Source