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‘Microhubs’ pilot will ease impact of truck delivery in Brooklyn

Sites include Greenpoint and Clinton Hill

September 17, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. Photo: Mary Frost, Brooklyn Eagle

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New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez on Tuesday announced that the agency has taken a key step to authorize a local delivery hub pilot.

The three-year “microhubs” pilot program will provide safe, dedicated spaces for truck operators to transfer deliveries onto smaller, safer and more sustainable modes of transportation for the last leg of delivery. These vehicles include e-cargo bikes, handcarts, and smaller electric sprinter vans.

The first locations to launch will be in Greenpoint; under the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway in Clinton Hill; and on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Eventually, the pilot program will spread to 20 locations, the DOT said.

An example of a microhub. Courtesy of NYC DOT

“This promising microhub pilot is part of our comprehensive plan to reducing truck traffic on city streets,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “Our focus is on fostering a safer, healthier environment for New Yorkers, while streamlining the massive surge in online deliveries with lower-impact vehicles.”

“Microhubs will offer a more sustainable and efficient way to make deliveries and reduce the number of big delivery trucks on our streets,” said Rodriguez. “These microhubs will make our streets greener and safer for all New Yorkers and we are excited to launch the first locations in Greenpoint, Clinton Hill and the Upper West Side.”

The proposed rules for the pilot program will include both on-street and off-street locations, creating dedicated spaces for delivery vehicles to transfer goods to safer and more sustainable delivery modes.

A public hearing will be held on Oct. 17 at 10 a.m. After the program is implemented, NYC DOT will be responsible for installing signs at all designated zones. Only authorized vehicles using the microhub will be permitted to access the designated zone.

The program will include both on-street and off-street microhub zones. On-street zones will be about 80-100 feet in length. They will include regulatory signs and other markings designating the as microhubs. Space will be available for package sorting and transfer of packages to electric vehicles, cargo bikes and walkers.

Off-street microhub zones will be located on city-owned properties and may include space for vehicles, goods storage, vehicle repairs, maintenance, charging, package sorting and vehicle transfer.

United Parcel Service trucks are seen parked at a distribution facility. AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File

Proposed Requirements for Participating Companies

NYC DOT will work in partnership with small and large delivery companies that responded to the agency’s previously-published Requests for Expressions of Interests. Additional companies may have the opportunity to participate following the first year of the pilot. Operators seeking to use an on-street microhub zone must first obtain a permit from NYC DOT. Permits will be active for one year, with the option to renew

Operators will be responsible for sweeping microhub zones at least once per week, removing snow and ice, and maintaining the cleanliness of designated street signs. Company names must be prominently displayed on each commercial vehicle, bicycle, or handcart using a microhub zone.

NYC DOT will collect data from each microhub at regular intervals to determine the pilot’s success. Relevant data points include the make and model of any sustainable mode of transportation used in the microhub, the operator’s average daily and weekly utilization rate of the microhub, and the total number of trips from the microhub to the final delivery destination.

Earlier this year, the city promulgated new rules to make it easier for delivery companies to adopt, a more sustainable alternative to large delivery trucks. NYC DOT has also recently launched to combat package thefts and continues to work on a “Blue Highways” program in coordination with New York City Economic Development Corporation to use waterways for deliveries.