In the spring of 1999, the Tri-State Campaign and the NYC Environmental Justice Alliance organized a coalition of 19 elected officials and 26 community groups to push NYC DOT to consider safety, noise and physical damage in designating truck routes (MTR #215).

A letter to DOT from the Federal Highway Administration dated February 7, 2000 stated that FHWA "understands that there is some concern within the city regarding how well the study will consider the truck traffic impacts on neighborhoods. If CMAQ funding is pursued, we will consider these comments during our review of the scope of the work." The city had sought to use federal Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality funds for the project, which distorted it by requiring it to demonstrate air pollution reduction - hence, "increase [truck] operator efficiency." It will not be a bad thing if NYC DOT is forced to find another funding source for the truck route project, one that will permit it to expand the aims of the effort and accommodate a pro-neighborhood perspective.

The Feb. 7 letter says FHWA has not "reviewed or approved the proposed scope of work for the study, a requirement prior to the Federal approval of funding."