A small town in New York state has banned tractor trailers from traveling through their village following the opening of an Amazon warehouse last year.
The $350 million distribution center off of Morgan Road outside of Liverpool, New York has substantially increased tractor trailer traffic in the area, causing disruptions to the “quality of life” of the residents.
According to Syracuse News, over three days, a total of 331 semi trucks drove through the heart of Liverpool as trucks moved from Syracuse and the warehouse in the northern suburbs – 80 of those were Amazon trucks.
“The reality is we’re a residential village,” Finney said. “We want to maintain the quality of life in our village.”
The village board voted unanimously to pass the tractor trailer ban on July 10th. The ban will take effect in the fall, after signs warning truckers of the ban have been installed. Letters regarding the ban will be sent to Amazon and other businesses in the area prior to the ban. The village is also considering raising the $50 fine to $1,500 per violation.
Liverpool Mayor Stacy Finney says that Amazon made an agreement with village officials about semi trucks sticking to the Liverpool Bypass of the New York State Thruway prior to the distribution center opening. Amazon installed permanent detour signs for their truck drivers, but the drivers have not stuck to the signs.
“The agreement from Day One was that they were not going to come through the village,” Finney said.
Finney has asked the state to make the Thruway toll-free for Syracuse exits in an effort to encourage trucks to stay out of the villages.
“I think there’s something about any fee that makes people want to avoid the Thruway,” she said.