‘Blue Highways’ open: NYC tests the waters on a new way to ship goods between Brooklyn and Manhattan

The city Department of Transportation (DOT) on Thursday launched a new pilot freight program that will test the movement of consumer goods between Brooklyn and Manhattan by boat rather than by truck.

The aquatic endeavor, part of the city’s “Blue Highways” initiative, aims to alleviate congestion and pollution caused by such vehicles. Boats will transport products, including cosmetics, fashion, lifestyle, and small household items, between the Brooklyn Marine Terminal in Red Hook and Pier 79 in Midtown Manhattan, according to DOT.

In partnership with DOT and the city’s Economic Development Corporation, the shipping company DutchX will begin the pilot by moving 300 to 400 parcels per day through the pier. After arriving at the port in Manhattan, the goods will then be transported on pedal-assist electric bikes for last-mile deliveries to locations throughout Midtown, the agency said.

During a Dec. 11 press conference kicking off the trial run, DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said moving goods via the city’s waterways instead of its roads will help reduce traffic and carbon emissions from trucks.

“Every day, nearly 90% of the goods that come into our city travel by truck,” Rodriguez said. “This creates congestion, pollution, and wear and tear on our streets.”

“Today we begin shifting to a 21st Century freight system, one where the middle mile moves by water and the last mile moves by sustainable modes, like cargo bikes,” he added. “This is how we get trucks off our streets and cleaner air into our lungs.”

The pilot programs comes after the DOT and the EDC jointly released their “Blue Highways Action Plan” in October. The report outlined several steps for boosting maritime freight transport throughout the five boroughs.

It includes steps such as identifying at least 25 “opportunity sites” that can be used for moving freight around the city, including old piers, ferry landings, or container terminals. It also calls for forming a “Blue Highways Advisory Council” early next year.

“By shifting freight from our crowded streets onto our underutilized waterways, we’re not just delivering packages, we’re delivering a cleaner, safer, and more efficient future for all New Yorkers,” said Anton Fredriksson, the EDC’s senior vice president and head of ports, waterfront, and transportation.

Thursday’s pilot launch also follows the EDC’s announcement earlier this fall that it is embarking on a massive redevelopment of the Brooklyn Marine Terminal, which has fallen into disrepair over the years, so the site can serve as the city’s central hub for maritime freight. The plan will see the dilapidated facility turned into a modern all-electric hub.

The EDC also unveiled plans earlier this year to build a new marine terminal in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx. The new terminal will also serve as part of the city’s marine freight network.