New York lawmakers take aim at truck-bridge smashes
New York state lawmakers are still working on ways to reduce the number of trucks hitting low bridges.
Bridge strikes involving vehicles continue to be a problem across the state.
A 2023 law ordered a statewide campaign to enforce bridge-hit rules. According to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office, more than 800 bridge strikes occurred over a two-year period.
To help address the issue, Hochul signed a bill requiring the New York State Department of Transportation to study bridge strike data and publicly release the findings.
The state is seeking effective methods to stop trucks from hitting low bridges. Several bills at the statehouse suggest potential solutions.
Bridge clearance heights
Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli, D-Syracuse, is backing a bill to tackle the problem.
His bill, introduced last month, would require the state DOT to give truck drivers a list of legal bridge clearance heights.
A9222 would make the list available to anyone who owns or operates a truck, commercial vehicle, tractor, tractor-trailer combination, tractor-semitrailer combination, or tractor-trailer-semitrailer combination.
Magnarelli said the list would help truck drivers, motorists, and local governments.
He noted that the Onondaga Lake Parkway Bridge over state Route 370 in Salina would be included. The rail bridge, built in the 1950s, has a clearance of 10 feet 9 inches.
“Trucks and other large vehicles have collided with the bridge since the 1950s,” Magnarelli wrote. “Since 2020, there have been an average of nine bridge strikes every year, resulting from trucks that are too tall to pass under the bridge.”
He said there are many other bridges around the state that create similar problems for truck drivers.
“The main issue is that operators or owners of large vehicles are not aware of the low height restrictions on these bridges and elevated structures until such structures are immediately in the way,” Magnarelli added.
He said the easy solution is to give truck owners and drivers a list of bridge clearance heights statewide.
“This would allow drivers to plan their routes ahead of time and prevent future accidents from occurring.”
A9222 is now in the Assembly Transportation Committee. The Senate version is S5530. The bill is in the Senate Transportation Committee.
Navigation systems
Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, D-Rotterdam, has a related bill focused on trucks.
Santabarbara said more traffic – guided by GPS apps – has led to a rise in bridge strikes in New York.
He said that even with warning signs, many truck drivers still hit low bridges, especially in unfamiliar areas.
A3536 would require GPS navigation systems to show the height of bridges, tunnels, and underpasses along a planned route.
“This legislation aims to address (bridge strikes) by compelling GPS systems to provide comprehensive warnings about the clearance heights of bridges and overpasses, with the goal of ultimately reducing the occurrence of bridge strikes,” Santabarbara wrote.
A navigation system would meet the rule if it shows legal clearance heights along proposed routes and tells drivers they must follow height and weight limits and other traffic laws.
The bill is waiting for an Assembly floor vote. If approved, it would move to the Senate. LL