ALBANY - In response to the dangers posed by scores of trucks hauling non-local solid waste across local rural roads in the Finger Lakes and Central New York, Governor David Paterson and U.S. Senator Charles Schumer Monday announced that the New York State Department of Transportation will institute a new policy intended to keep large trucks, with the exception of local pick-up and delivery vehicles, on the National Interstate Highway System.

Each day, non-local, garbage-laden trucks leave the interstates and cut through towns across the Finger Lakes and Central New York to save money on gas and avoid tolls and weigh stations. The trucks jeopardize the region’s quality of life by hazardously barreling down small rural roads that are unable to handle their weight. They also carry noxious solid waste near the region’s numerous lakes, threatening vital drinking water sources like Lake Skaneateles.

Over 1.9 million trucks carry freight through Central New York each year. In recent years, there have been numerous accidents spilling fuel, garbage and chemicals, all posing a potential threat to the Onondaga County watershed and surrounding neighborhoods. In addition, the trucks disrupt communities at all hours of the day and night.

DOT will develop a new set of regulations for large truck routings that will balance the need for large trucks to serve the State’s economy with the need to promote sustainable economic development, tourism and improved quality of life for local residents. This policy will reduce truck traffic in many local communities by keeping large trucks on the national truck network for as much of the trip as possible. This new truck policy will be implemented initially in the Finger Lakes region before being expanded to the rest of the State. DOT will hold a public meeting to solicit input from the trucking industry, business, other stakeholders and the public for use in developing these regulations.