Overweight trucks on BQE stretch down 60% with new weight sensors
The number of overweight trucks crossing the creakiest section of the Brooklyn Queens Expressway has been more than halved by the installation of overweight vehicle sensors, city transportation officials announced Tuesday.
Beginning in November 2023, the city has used automated sensors on the Queens-bound side of the BQE triple-cantilever in downtown Brooklyn to assess fines to overweight trucks.
An analysis of a years worth of data shows that overweight crossings of the triple-cantilever have fallen by 60% since the automated fines began — an average of 3,041 overweight trucks each month, down from 7,920 a month prior to the program beginning.
'I hope our productive partnership with legislative leaders and the Governor to bring weigh-in-motion to New York City, and the results it has yielded, can serve as a national model for other cities and states, including the rest of New York State,' city transportation commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said in a statement.
Some 130,000 vehicles traverse the BQE each day, according to city data, a number that includes roughly 13,000 trucks. The route includes the aging triple cantilever structure that skirts Brooklyn Heights — a stacked set of roadways that has long been in need of serious repair.
Weight sensors were first installed along the Queens-bound lane of the structure, and were authorized by lawmakers in Albany to interface with license-plate cameras and automatically issue fines to trucks carrying more than the allowable per-axle weight or gross vehicle weight. The DOT had initially planned to install the system on the Staten Island-bound side by the end of 2024, an upgrade officials say is coming this year.
But the automated ticket system's authorization is set to expire on December 1.
Transportation officials Tuesday called on Albany to re-authorize and expand the program, allowing for it to be used on other sections of road under NYC DOT's auspices.
As previously reported, work to overhaul the triple cantilever is expected to begin in 2028.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Yahoo
Springfield police open applications for motorcycle safety course
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Springfield police are once again offering its free one-day civilian motorcycle safety course called Share the Road for experienced riders. The next Share the Road will take place on Saturday, June 14. The course will also be offered on Sept. 6 and Oct. 11 in 2025. Anyone who is interested can submit an interest application until Thursday, June 12, at noon. SPD says the course will include advanced riding techniques, motorcycle handling, object avoidance and more to help riders be safe on the road and minimize the risk of accidents. Springfield Fire Deptartment adds 16 new firefighters after training Participants must also have the following qualifications and equipment, according to SPD: A valid motorcycle endorsement (not a permit) A motorcycle (250cc or greater, no three-wheel variety). All motorcycles must have legal exhaust and legal handlebars (i.e., no 'ape hangers'). All motorcycles must be street-legal and subject to inspection. Motorcycle insurance A legal, DOT-approved helmet Eye protection Footwear that covers the ankles Proper motorcycle attire Optional equipment – armored or padded motorcycle gear Signed liability waiver Riders who have any questions about the course can email sharetheroad@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Aston Martin faces pressure from Fitch
Fitch Ratings has maintained Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings Plc's long-term issuer default rating at 'B-', with a Negative Outlook, citing increased liquidity risk and weaker-than-expected free cash flow in 2024. The credit update, published on 2 June, follows continued financial pressure on the luxury carmaker, despite a recent capital injection and relief from proposed US automotive tariffs. The rating action comes two months after Aston Martin's executive chairman Lawrence Stroll told Bloomberg News (1 April) that he does not rule out taking the company private. Stroll described the carmaker's market valuation — around £650 million — as a 'joke', noting it is now roughly equal to the amount his Yew Tree consortium has invested since 2020. After the latest £52.5 million capital raise, Yew Tree's stake will increase to around 33%. While Stroll insists the company is 'severely undervalued', Fitch's view underscores the difficulty of turning around the carmaker's financial performance. Fitch highlighted a larger-than-anticipated free cash flow deficit in 2024 and ongoing execution risks linked to Aston Martin's turnaround strategy. These concerns persist despite a £125 million capital boost announced at the end of March, comprising a share issue and the sale of the company's stake in its Formula 1 team, which temporarily eases liquidity pressures. Aston Martin, which has declared its goal to become EBIT-profitable in 2025, has consistently struggled to achieve sustainable performance. Car sales fell 9% year-on-year to around 6,000 in 2024, while the group reported a pre-tax loss of £290 million. Analysts have questioned the company's ability to deliver on revised profitability targets, particularly given ongoing supply chain constraints and past delays in model launches. The company's US exposure adds further complexity. The US accounted for 37% of group revenue in 2024, and earlier proposals from the Trump administration to impose 25% tariffs on UK car imports raised concerns. However, a new UK–US trade agreement, whose implementation date remains unclear, will reduce duties to 10% for the first 100,000 vehicles exported annually, roughly equivalent to the UK's 2024 export total, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). While management has downplayed the impact, noting the tariff hike is 'not catastrophic,' Fitch notes that the pricing implications are uncertain. To mitigate near-term tariff effects, Aston Martin accelerated US-bound shipments in Q1 2025, providing inventory cover for the second quarter. Management has also indicated that passing on higher costs may be feasible for high-margin, limited-run models, but Fitch notes that long-term margin effects remain unclear. Tariff-related cost pressure adds to existing inflationary challenges, though the company continues to pursue cost-saving initiatives. Since its 2018 IPO at a £4.3 billion valuation, Aston Martin has undergone several strategic resets. The latest, under new CEO Adrian Hallmark, who joined from Bentley Motors Ltd, prioritises profit over volume, scrapping previous sales targets and focusing instead on customised, high-margin models and derivatives of existing platforms. Hallmark previously led Bentley to record profitability, increasing its operating margins to over 20% by 2023. Still, Fitch warns that Aston Martin's 'rating headroom remains constrained,' with profitability dependent on effective execution, shareholder support, and resilience to external risks including weaker demand, particularly in China, and potential delays to new launches. "Aston Martin faces pressure from Fitch" was originally created and published by Motor Finance Online, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Motor 1
5 days ago
- Motor 1
Here's What Can Happen When You Drive Over a Loose Manhole Cover
Manhole covers are designed to stay in place, with their round shape preventing them from falling in. But they can become dislodged in certain situations, creating a huge danger to cars. How big a hazard? A new Garage 54 video finds out by running a couple of cars over a loose manhole cover at different speeds, and it's not good. The final run was the most brutal, with the Lexus ES hitting the loose cover at over 40 miles per hour. The front tire caused the cover to bounce upward, hitting the rear tire. It dented the rear rim before going under the tire and jumping into the rear bumper cover, partially ripping it off the sedan. The crash didn't total the vehicle, but it caused quite a bit of damage that'd be a headache for any owner to repair. The earlier runs resulted in several damaged tires and dented rocker panels, but none compared to the last. You'd think you wouldn't have to worry about loose manhole covers on today's roads, but accidents do occur. In 2021, a bus in Queens, New York, hit a manhole with a loose cover. The front of the bus launched several feet into the air before slamming back down and colliding with a parked car. Nine people were hurt, which should be a good reminder to watch the road. More Mad Garage 54 Creations: EV 'Engine' Made From 50 Cordless Drills Is Silly and Brilliant This Supersized Lada With Two Engines Somehow Works Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Sources: Garage54 / YouTube , ABC7 NY Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
