NEW YORK — City officials on Thursday launched a marine freight pilot connecting Manhattan’s Pier 79 and the Brooklyn Marine Terminal, part of New York City’s effort to shift more goods movement from trucks to waterways.
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The pilot, operated by NY Waterway and DutchX in coordination with the NYC Department of Transportation and the NYC Economic Development Corporation, will transport parcels by ferry from Red Hook to Pier 79. DutchX will then make last-mile deliveries using electric cargo bikes. The city expects 300 to 400 packages per day to start, with potential expansion as the program develops.
The Blue Highways initiative aims to reduce truck traffic, improve air quality, and add resiliency to the city’s supply chain by using waterfront infrastructure for freight. Nearly 90% of goods entering or moving through New York City currently travel by truck.
The city said it is collecting data on capacity, frequency, and reductions in vehicle miles traveled. Officials are also evaluating similar freight models for three additional sites: Pier 11, the 34th Street Pier, and the Battery Maritime Building.
The pilot follows prior test runs and builds on long-term plans to redevelop the Brooklyn Marine Terminal into an all-electric maritime port and mixed-use district.