Part of Mayor Bill De Blasio’s plan to reduce traffic congestion in New York City limits deliveries of goods, a move that took many store owners by surprise. The Mayor rolled out a six-month “Clear Curbs” pilot that bans deliveries from 7:00am to 10:00am and 4:00pm to 7:00pm, starting on April 2 in Midtown Manhattan; the pilot started March 19 in parts of Flatbush Ave in Brooklyn and Roosevelt Ave in Queens. Deliveries are also being restricted to one side of the street.
On Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, the curbside parking ban applies to both sides of the street from Tillary Street to Grand Army Plaza. In Queens, the city says the ban runs from Broadway to 90th Street.
The pilot aims to free up traffic lanes during rush hour, targeting delivery trucks that idle and double park, which city leaders say adds to congestion. Some merchants complained that the announcement of the pilot didn’t give them enough time to change their delivery schedules.
As part of the initiative, the city will be collecting data on congestion, double parking and delivery activity to ultimately determine whether to make the program permanent.
Drivers will still be allowed to pick-up and drop-off passengers as long as it’s “done quickly,” according to officials. Deliveries to off-street loading docks will still be allowed. For more information, click here.
Source: CBS New York, New York Truck Stop
