New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced that the nation’s first automated enforcement program against overweight trucks, known as weigh-in-motion (WIM), has led to a 64% reduction in overweight vehicles along the triple cantilever of the Brooklyn Queens Expressway (BQE).
The DOT currently operates WIM enforcement on the Queens-bound portion of the BQE triple cantilever in downtown Brooklyn, a portion of the I-278 highway known as ‘BQE Central,' according to a news release.
During the first seven months of automated enforcement, a monthly average of 2,769 overweight trucks crossed the triple cantilever. Prior to the launch, a monthly average of 7,777 overweight trucks had traveled the same portion of the highway the seven months leading up to the launch of the program.
The decline comes as the overall number of vehicles, including trucks, remains steady, with the share of overweight trucks falling from about 6.3% of all trucks on the roadway to 1.9% in most recent months.
“New York City is leading the nation in efficiently and effectively keeping overweight trucks off the road through inground sensors on the BQE,” said Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi. “This transformational technology protects and prolongs the lifespan of our critical infrastructure, like the triple cantilever portion of the BQE, and improves safety for all road users."
Following the success of Queens-bound enforcement on the BQE, NYC DOT plans to launch WIM enforcement for Staten Island-bound traffic by the end of 2024. As with the Queens-bound portion last year, activation of violations will follow a well-publicized 90-day warning period.
