Relates to non-divisible load permits

BILL NUMBER:S1522

Title of bill

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to non-divisible load permits; providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof

Summary of specific provisions

This bill amends Section 385(15) (d) of the Vehicle and Traffic Law by providing that, in a city not wholly included within one county, a non-divisible load permit issued by New York State Department of Transportation will be valid along a specified route on designated highways connecting Westchester County to Nassau County.

Reasons for support

This legislation will simplify the permitting process for trucks carrying non-divisible loads on one specific route through New York City between Westchester and Nassau County. The legislation thus will facilitate the freer movement of commerce between upstate and downstate.

Trucks carrying goods such as steel beams, modular homes, or construction equipment are said to have "non-divisible loads," meaning that their cargo cannot be split and placed onto smaller trucks. When these vehicles exceed certain dimensions they require a special permit. If they travel on State roads outside and within New York City limits, they must obtain two permits: one issued by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) to cover roadways outside and leading to New York City and the other issued by the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) to cover those sections of these roadways that lie within New York City's limits.

The bill establishes one route within New York City for which the NYSDOT can issue a permit instead of a NYCDOT permit. The route runs on 1-95 between the Bronx-Westchester County line and 1-695, on 1-695 between 1-95 and 1-295 between 1-695 and 1-495, and on 1-495 between 1-295 and the Queens-Nassau County line.

This will allow NYSDOT permit holders to travel from upstate New York and Westchester County to Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island without having to apply for a second permit from NYCDOT. They would still be required to obtain authorization from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Bridges and Tunnels to cross the Throgs Neck Bridge. Additionally, the NYSDOT permit (like the current NYCDOT permit) would not be valid at any time if the truck carrying the non-divisible load should exit this specific route on its own power anywhere within New York City.

The route subject to this legislation already is designated as a critical route on which fifty-three foot trailers may travel through New York City in transit between Westchester and Long Island. Fifty-three foot trailers are not permitted on any other road in New York City.

This legislation has the support of the New York City and New York State Departments of Transportation.

Prior legislative history

2010: S.4903 Passed Senate - A.7338 Referred to Transportation 2011-2012 : S. 1523 (passed Senate both years)/ A. 4641 - Transportation 2013-2014 : S. 3041 Passed Senate/A. 4064 - Transportation.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the 180th day after it shall have become a law, and shall expire four years after it shall take effect.