New York Gov. David Paterson and U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer announced this week that the New York Department of Transportation will implement a new policy intended to keep large trucks on the Interstates and off of secondary roads,
especially in the Finger Lakes and Central New York region.

In a press release from the governor's office, the explained the move thusly: "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."

DOT will develop a new set of regulations for large truck routings. 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.

New York plans to look to New Jersey's truck routing regulations keeping trucks off many secondary roads, which generated a lot of opposition in the trucking industry when introduced nine years ago.

Kendra Adams, president of the New York State Motor Truck Association, told a local paper that she was "incredibly disappointed" to hear about the governor's plan. She pointed out that the association has been aware of the concerns and have suggested solutions to officials. Truckers are taking the rural routes for basic economic reasons, such as saving fuel and avoiding tolls.