The New York City Council has moved forward with a significant bill to ease parking regulations for commercial trucks overnight.
Introduced as Intro 0099, the legislation was passed on June 30 and is now awaiting the decision of Mayor Eric Adams.
If signed, the law would obligate the city’s Department of Transportation (DOT) to designate specific overnight parking areas within the city’s industrial business zones to accommodate commercial vehicles.
City officials noted that the bill comes as a response to mounting concerns from residents regarding quality-of-life issues caused by trucks parked improperly in residential neighborhoods.
“This isn’t about pointing fingers, it’s about addressing a problem that’s been left unmanaged for too long in communities like mine,” said Queens City Council Member Nantasha Williams, the bill’s sponsor.
Williams expressed that residents have shared genuine concerns, and highlighted that truck drivers often find themselves without feasible parking options.
She emphasized that while tickets may currently be issued for improper parking, it is essential to provide solutions alongside enforcement.
The proposed legislation aims to foster a more sustainable parking system that acknowledges the needs of local communities while also recognizing the crucial role truckers play in the city’s logistics.
This initiative builds upon the DOT’s existing on-street overnight truck parking pilot program, launched earlier this year on March 20, which provided metered parking in three industrial locales: Flatlands in Brooklyn, Hunts Point in the Bronx, and Maspeth in Queens.
This pilot program created a total of 45 new legal parking spaces for trucks.
Under the new policy set forth by Intro 0099, more parking areas would be designated for commercial trucks, allowing them to remain active for at least 10 uninterrupted hours overnight while being inactive during daylight hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The dual objectives of the bill and the pilot program aim to support truck drivers in adhering to federally mandated rest requirements and to curtail illegal overnight parking in residential neighborhoods.
Eric Beaton, deputy commissioner of Transportation Planning and Management, commented on the importance of the bill by saying, “Allowing truck operators to have safe and convenient places to take mandatory rest breaks supports the safety of the truck-based deliveries we all rely on.”
In communication with amNewYork, Selvena Brooks-Powers, chair of the NYC Council’s transportation and infrastructure committee, could not be reached for further comment as she was in a meeting.
The Trucking Association of New York also expressed support for the bill, asserting that it would benefit truckers and enhance the efficiency of deliveries in the city.
Zach Miller, vice president of government affairs at the organization, stated, “Providing a safe place to park is not just a kind gesture; it has the power to improve efficiency, reduce costs for drivers, and preserve neighborhoods.”
He further noted that trucks are responsible for transporting nearly 90% of New York City’s goods, and passing the bill would be a encouraging step forward for the city’s freight infrastructure.
Advocacy groups have pointed out that truck parking capacity is a pervasive issue nationwide, particularly in dense urban centers like New York City.
According to the American Trucking Associations and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, there is currently only one truck parking space available for every 11 truck drivers across the United States.
As of now, Mayor Adams has yet to sign the bill into law.
If approved, the legislation would take effect after a period of 180 days and would remain valid until July 1, 2030.
image source from：amny
