The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has announced that it will use road sensors and cameras to automatically issue fines to overweight trucks, in order to reduce the annual $30 million maintenance expenses caused by bridge damage. The first pilot program will be implemented on the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge (RFK Bridge) connecting Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx.
Cathy Sheridan, the director of the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority under MTA, stated that the introduction of the “weigh-in-motion” system will automatically detect trucks exceeding the state-mandated weight limit of 80,000 pounds and issue fines directly. She emphasized that this measure is a “significant safety plan” that will not only reduce structural wear and tear on bridges but also save taxpayers substantial maintenance costs.
The state legislature has authorized MTA to launch this program in the current budget year. Since 2023, the New York City Department of Transportation has been using the same technology on a section of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). Municipal data shows that overweight vehicles on this section have decreased by 60% since the implementation of the program.
However, the Trucking Association of New York State believes that MTA should postpone the implementation of the program until a legal pathway for overweight permits is established. The association points out that differing county regulations result in trucks legally operating in Westchester or Nassau County becoming violators once they enter New York City. The association warns that the lack of a permit system will force many small operators into a “no-win situation”: either increase trip frequency and costs or risk operating illegally. This not only increases the likelihood of traffic congestion but also exacerbates pollution and accident risks.
According to the plan, trucks exceeding the state’s weight limit by more than 10% or axle weights exceeding 22,400 pounds by more than 20% will face fines in the hundreds of dollars. The specific amounts have not been disclosed, but a similar BQE program currently imposes fines of $650 per violation.
If the pilot program is successful, the city will expand the automatic weighing technology to nine other bridges and major roads, including the Manhattan Bridge, Williamsburg Bridge, and Long Island Expressway. However, the city has not announced a specific rollout timeline, only stating that they are collaborating with the state government to plan the deployment of more sensors and cameras.