Trucks are a big target as New York and San Francisco look for ways to solve gridlock.
In New York, Transportation Commissioner Iris Weinshall is trying to make good on her campaign promise of relieving congestion. Congestion pricing is already being used by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, offering discounts for both truckers and motorists traveling at off-peak times.
A variation on congestion pricing went into effect in November in a five-block area of midtown Manhattan. Trucks and other commercial vehicles can park in a special commercial parking zone by paying $1 for one hour, $3 for two hours or $6 for three hours. The program was designed to keep trucks from double-parking or staying in the area for two long. It's working, say officials; the average amount of time a truck stays parked in the area has dropped. Expect this system to be expanded to other parts of midtown.
A more radical solution being proposed is to build a rail freight tunnel under New York Harbor. The idea isn't new; state Rep. Jerrold Nadler of Manhattan and others have been suggesting it for nearly two decades. But the project would cost $2.3 billion and could take 10 to 20 years to build.
On the other side of the continent, San Francisco officials have a controversial proposal to cut down on trucks double parking to make deliveries and jamming up city streets in the process.
Fred Hamdun, director of parking and traffic, wants to ticket the drivers of double parked trucks for moving violations, which would count against their driver's records and ultimately threaten their licenses and livelihoods, reports The San Francisco Chronicle.
Currently, violators get parking tickets, which are usually paid by the companies the drivers work for. Checks each month for as much as thousands of dollars for such infractions are often viewed simply as a cost of doing business in the city.
Hamdun says this process leads to an irresponsible attitude by drivers, who double park with impunity because they know the company will pay for any parking tickets.
Local Teamsters officials call the idea "devastating" and vow to fight it. Police department officials also question whether parking control officers are properly equipped to deal with writing such tickets.
The proposal is just the latest step in the mayor's fight against double parking. In the last 5 ½ years, he has created more truck-only loading zones, imposed higher fines, and even proposed a daytime ban on all downtown deliveries.
In New York, Transportation Commissioner Iris Weinshall is trying to make good on her campaign promise of relieving congestion. Congestion pricing is already being used by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, offering discounts for both truckers and motorists traveling at off-peak times.
A variation on congestion pricing went into effect in November in a five-block area of midtown Manhattan. Trucks and other commercial vehicles can park in a special commercial parking zone by paying $1 for one hour, $3 for two hours or $6 for three hours. The program was designed to keep trucks from double-parking or staying in the area for two long. It's working, say officials; the average amount of time a truck stays parked in the area has dropped. Expect this system to be expanded to other parts of midtown.
A more radical solution being proposed is to build a rail freight tunnel under New York Harbor. The idea isn't new; state Rep. Jerrold Nadler of Manhattan and others have been suggesting it for nearly two decades. But the project would cost $2.3 billion and could take 10 to 20 years to build.
On the other side of the continent, San Francisco officials have a controversial proposal to cut down on trucks double parking to make deliveries and jamming up city streets in the process.
Fred Hamdun, director of parking and traffic, wants to ticket the drivers of double parked trucks for moving violations, which would count against their driver's records and ultimately threaten their licenses and livelihoods, reports The San Francisco Chronicle.
Currently, violators get parking tickets, which are usually paid by the companies the drivers work for. Checks each month for as much as thousands of dollars for such infractions are often viewed simply as a cost of doing business in the city.
Hamdun says this process leads to an irresponsible attitude by drivers, who double park with impunity because they know the company will pay for any parking tickets.
Local Teamsters officials call the idea "devastating" and vow to fight it. Police department officials also question whether parking control officers are properly equipped to deal with writing such tickets.
The proposal is just the latest step in the mayor's fight against double parking. In the last 5 ½ years, he has created more truck-only loading zones, imposed higher fines, and even proposed a daytime ban on all downtown deliveries.
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