What's happening
This bill allows certain vehicles to exceed standard size and weight limits on a specific 1.7-mile route to the Port of Ogdensburg.
Why it matters
Could boost local economy and job opportunities. By allowing larger or heavier vehicles direct access to the Port of Ogdensburg, the bill could make the port more attractive for shippers, potentially increasing trade volume and supporting local employment.
May affect road safety and infrastructure costs. Heavier and larger vehicles on this designated 1.7-mile route could lead to increased wear and tear on local roads and bridges, possibly leading to higher maintenance costs or infrastructure upgrades.
Supports regional and international trade connections. The route connects directly from an international bridge to a key port, signaling support for cross-border commerce and strengthening the region’s role in the broader supply chain.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Remove Truck Size Limits
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to transportation
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1251
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Lift Truck Size Limits
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Mark Walczyk
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4713
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 21, 2019
Introduced by Sen. RITCHIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the allowable dimensions and weights of vehicles traveling on highways and bridges
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 16 of section 385 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new paragraph (v) to read as follows:
(v) Over a route extending from the Ogdensburg Prescott International Bridge, proceeding south to New York state route 37, and then southwest along route 37, continuing northwest along Ford Street Extension/Ford Street, to the Port of Ogdensburg, a distance of approximately 1.7 miles.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10850-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the allowable dimensions and weights of vehicles traveling on highways and bridges
Purpose
This bill would allow vehicles with increased weight and dimension to traverse a short portion of highway between the Ogdensburg Prescott International Bridge and the Ogdesnburg Bridge and Port Authority entrance.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends the vehicle and traffic law by adding a new paragraph to subdivision 16 of section 385 to provide for the exemption.
Section 2 provides that the act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
The Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority (OBPA) seeks an exemption in the vehicle and traffic law, of approximately 1.7 miles, to accommodate the international shipment of goods to and from Canada via the Prescott International Bridge to the Port of Ogdensburg. Without the exemption, international shipment costs are increased 300% and 43% more vehicles are needed to transport necessary commodities.
Section 385 of the vehicle and traffic law places limits on the weight and dimension of vehicles traveling within the state. Section 385 also provides various exemptions for vehicles with increased weight and dimensions, traveling in certain parts of the state. Since there is no current exemption for vehicles traveling between the Ogdensburg Prescott International Bridge and the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority, and since the weight limits imposed by section 385 of the vehicle and traf- fic law are far below those imposed on Canadian roads, many Canadian companies are reluctant to expand their operations to the Port of Ogdensburg. This has an impact on many local industries including agri- culture and container shipping.
The Port of Ogdensburg is the first U.S. Port on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System and is strategically located in close pioximity to major markets in the U.S. and Canada. The Port has an active trade zone and is seeking to expand its international commerce efforts; howev- er those efforts are being undercut by the lack of an exception in the vehicle and traffic law for this short section of highway.
Adding this exception will increase international imports and exports, create jobs in the region and reduce the cost of shipping international goods, as less vehicles will be required to transport commodities.
Legislative history
This is new legislation.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
The act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.