By Joseph Morales

                 The Hunts Point neighborhood of The Bronx is one of the busiest industrial communities in New York City. It is home to the largest food distribution center in the world, known as The Hunts Point Cooperative Market, which is home to three major markets serving various types of food items. The market is home to over 155 companies, generating over $3 billion in annual revenue and 4.5 billion pounds of food annually. In addition, 60% of NYC’s produce and 50% of its meat and fish pass through Hunts Point for sale and distribution to individuals, making Hunts Point a critical point for food distribution within New York City.

                  As you might expect, this leads to traffic congestion from cars and trucks being an issue in the surrounding community. According to a report from the New York City Economic Development Corporation(NYCEDC), 15,000 trucks enter the Food Distribution Center daily. This number does not include trucks traveling to warehouses and other destinations outside the FDC, which include an Amazon Delivery Station. Many vehicles enter the zone as many people purchase items in the market. Many also travel into the neighborhood to get to their jobs and some to their residences. However, it is worth noting that as of 2019, 85.7% of people in the community district in which Hunts Point is located have a car-free commute, according to data from the NYU Furman Center.

               . Unfortunately for its over 12,600 residents,  congestion from vehicles and trucks still means slower travel speeds regardless of mode as well as adverse health effects from air pollution. For example, the Hunts Point area has consistently been known as an asthma hotspot in part due to the traffic congestion that passes through every day, along with its proximity to the Bruckner Expressway. Department of Health data shows that Hunts Point ranks among the worst in practically every asthma-related statistic, including asthma rates amongst the population and hospitalizations for adults and children. In 2016, a research study described Hunts Point as having “high burdens of PM2.5-attributable morbidity and mortality from truck emissions.” PM2.5 are fine particles that can pose health risks to individuals and particularly those who are exposed to higher quantities of them, such as Hunts Point residents. 

                 In response to the problem, many organizations such as Volvo, the Greater Hunts Point Development Corporation, City Harvest, and more are working together to construct the first charging hub for electric freight vehicles in the U.S. The hub will include charging stations for cars, trucks, and e-bikes, as well as solar canopies. The hub will also support job growth in The Bronx by offering EV workforce training, hands-on education for drivers and felt managers, and possibly even a CDL certification program. 

                        CDLs or commercial driver licenses are required for operating large or heavy vehicles in New York, such as buses and trucks. Having such a program can serve as a gateway into a plethora of driving careers for local residents. In 2019, Bronx Community District 2, where the charging hub will be located, had an 11.29% unemployment rate and only a 52.7% labor force participation rate, according to data from the NYU Furman Center. The labor force participation rate is different from the unemployment rate as the unemployment rate measures the percentage of those within the labor force who do not have a job. In contrast, the labor force participation rate measures the percentage of those who have a job or are looking for one. Thus, accessing driving careers may help these numbers, especially since many of them, including being an MTA bus operator, do not require a high school diploma, as 29.8% of CD 2 residents did not have one as of 2019.

                        The space will also include certain other amenities, such as green space, along with locally owned Food & Beverage/Concessions.

                        City Harvest will use the space to deploy 6 Volvo electric trucks for their operations in The Bronx, delivering food to pantries around The Bronx, particularly in communities like Hunts Point that have asthma rates amongst its population. 

                          Another major use of the facility will be for a new zero-tailpipe emission logistics company owned by workers known as the Electric Truckers Cooperative. This company will be started by the Drivers Cooperative, a driver-owned rideshare organization with assistance from Volvo. The company will receive four Class 7 Volvo VNR Electric Models and one Mack LR Electric refuse model that will help them to commence operations.

                         This facility has the ability to address several of Hunts Point and the South Bronx’s transportation, health, and economic challenges in significantly meaningful ways. The project was among the 10 grand prize winners of the $85 million New York Clean Transportation Prizes Program as part of the Clean Neighborhoods Challenge, which awards projects with funding that aim to implement clean transportation solutions in underserved communities that help to reduce emissions and improve the quality of life for community members. As Hunts Point has coped with many issues as a result of congestion generated by the food markets, this depot is a crucial step in allowing residents to live healthier lives and reap the full economic benefits of the robust industries in the community. 

Works Cited

New York City Economic Development Corporation. Hunts Point Peninsula | NYCEDC, 2022, https://edc.nyc/project/hunts-point-peninsula. Accessed 26 February 2023.

New York University-Furman Center. “Hunts Point/Longwood Neighborhood Profile – NYU Furman Center.” NYU Furman Center, 2019, https://furmancenter.org/neighborhoods/view/hunts-point-longwood. Accessed 26 February 2023.

New York City Department of Health. “Asthma data for NYC | Environment & Health Data Portal.” NYC.gov, 2020, https://a816-dohbesp.nyc.gov/IndicatorPublic/beta/data-explorer/asthma/?id=18#display=summary. Accessed 26 February 2023.

New York City Department of Health. “Asthma data for NYC | Environment & Health Data Portal.” NYC.gov, 2018, https://a816-dohbesp.nyc.gov/IndicatorPublic/beta/data-explorer/asthma/?id=2382#display=summary. Accessed 26 February 2023.

Kheirbek, Iyad, et al. “The contribution of motor vehicle emissions to ambient fine particulate matter public health impacts in New York City: a health burden assessment – Environmental Health.” Environmental Health, 26 August 2016, https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-016-0172-6. Accessed 26 February 2023.

Hunts Point. “The Bronx is Breathing — Hunts | Point | NYC.” Hunts | Point | NYC, 2022, https://www.huntspoint.nyc/the-bronx-is-breathing. Accessed 26 February 2023.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority. “How to Become an MTA Bus Operator.” MTA, https://new.mta.info/careers/bus-operator. Accessed 26 February 2023.

West, Robin. ““The Bronx is Breathing” Selected As Grand Prize Awardee in $85 Million New York Clean Transportation Prize Competition.” Urban Health Plan, 17 November 2022, https://www.urbanhealthplan.org/the-bronx-is-breathing-selected-as-grand-prize-awardee-in-85-million-new-york-clean-transportation-prize-competition/. Accessed 26 February 2023.

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.” NYSERDA, 16 November 2022, https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/About/Newsroom/2022-Announcements/2022-11-16-Governor-Hochul-Announces-Ten-Grand-Prize-Winners. Accessed 26 February 2023.

Carrot. “About.” Clean Neighborhoods Challenge, 2022, https://www.cleanneighborhoodschallenge.org/about. Accessed 26 February 2023.