$15 million from congestion pricing money will bring cleaner air to the Bronx
City leaders gathered at the Hunts Point Produce Market to announce that funds will go toward replacing diesel-powered transport refrigeration units, also known as TRUs, with cleaner, hybrid models.
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The Bronx is about to see cleaner air and new health investments thanks to money collected from congestion pricing.
City leaders gathered at the Hunts Point Produce Market to announce that $15 million will go toward replacing diesel-powered transport refrigeration units, also known as TRUs, with cleaner, hybrid models.
"TRUs have been one of the leading sources of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions right here in the Bronx," said Rep. Ritchie Torres. "I cannot imagine a public health program that can do so much good to so many, so quickly."
Hunts Point Produce Market has about 1,000 refrigerated diesel units that run 24/7. City leaders say replacing them will significantly cut emissions in the Bronx, which has some of the highest asthma rates in the city. The city has already replaced 20 of them, and it plans to replace more than 70 more by the end of the year.
"Replacing just one of these units avoids the particulate matter, the emissions of 330 truck trips per day on the Cross Bronx Expressway, times 20, which is what we've already done. That's enough emission reduction to be the equivalent of removing 6,000 trucks per day from the Cross Bronx Expressway, more than a third of the daily truck traffic on the Cross Bronx. These are amazing numbers," said MTA chair and CEO Janno Lieber.
The investment is part of a broader plan funded by congestion pricing, which will also see improvements in asthma care programs, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and the expansion of green space.
The overall goal is to improve air quality and public health in the Bronx.
