Empire Clean Cities, in partnership with Net Zero Logistics, has completed Phase One of its Sustainable Last-Mile Delivery pilot in New York City, showing how innovative approaches can make urban deliveries cleaner and more efficient. The pilot combines heavy-duty electric cargo bikes with maritime middle-mile transport to cut congestion, reduce emissions, and support timely deliveries in dense city areas. The project will be highlighted on September 26 at the NYC Climate Week 2025 expo on Governors Island, hosted by The Trust for Governors Island. Key project partners include Barretto Bay Strategies, Freight Matters, and The Hub Bicycles.
Phase One: Brooklyn to Governors Island
The first phase, launched in summer 2025, focused on a delivery corridor connecting Sunset Park, Brooklyn, to Governors Island. Partnering with local vendor Carreau Club, fresh food and beverages were picked up from Industry City in Sunset Park using a Fulpra electric cargo bike. Items were then taken to the Atlantic Basin Ferry Terminal in Red Hook and transported via NYC Ferry for the maritime leg of the journey. Upon arrival at Governors Island, a second Fulpra cargo bike delivered the goods to their final destinations. Empire Clean Cities is now exploring opportunities to expand this service year-round and include additional vendors on the island.
Looking Ahead: Expanding Routes
Phase Two will extend the pilot to include a route from Hunts Point in the Bronx to lower Manhattan. This expansion continues the initiative’s goal of replacing traditional delivery truck trips with electric cargo bikes while utilizing New York City’s waterways. The project aligns with the NYC Department of Transportation and NYC Economic Development Corporation’s Blue Highway Initiative, which integrates sustainable waterborne freight into the city’s logistics network.
“Blue Highways represent the future of freight delivery in New York City, and NYCEDC is dedicated to making that vision a reality,” said NYCEDC President & CEO Andrew Kimball. “By activating the City’s waterfront for last-mile delivery — from the recently approved and historic Brooklyn Marine Terminal project to Downtown Skyport in lower Manhattan and Hunts Point in the Bronx – and working with critical partners like Empire Clean Cities to test this theory in practice, together, we are building a cleaner, more efficient, and sustainable future for all New Yorkers.”
According to the NYC Department of Transportation, “New York City’s waterways were its highways of the past and can be the highways of its future. Our Blue Highways program is designed to reduce the number of big trucks on our streets by moving more goods by boat and making the final deliveries to people’s doors using smaller, safer forms of transportation like cargo bikes. This transformative work is a win for our environment, for street safety, and for everyone’s quality of life. Empire Clean Cities is at the forefront of this work and an important ally in our Blue Highways Program.”
Sustainable Deliveries Make a Difference
Joy Gardner, Executive Director of Empire Clean Cities, emphasized the importance of sustainable last-mile solutions for cities like New York. “New York City has the density, the innovation, and the urgency to lead in sustainable freight solutions,” she said. “This pilot shows that by rethinking the last mile, we can create cleaner air, safer streets, and more resilient logistics models that can be replicated in other major cities across the country.”
Dana Bunker, owner of Carreau Club, praised the pilot’s execution and its impact on local operations. “Carreau Club was so grateful to have a delivery partner on the island this season! Their team was reliable, easy to work with, and always showed up – rain or shine! By picking up fresh food straight from our Brooklyn kitchen and delivering it directly to our island location, they saved us from the weekly ferry struggle and even helped ease demand on the Trust’s ferry. Consistent drivers, smooth operations, and a huge win for our team.”
Implications for Last-Mile Delivery Drivers
For last-mile drivers, this project demonstrates how innovative delivery models using electric cargo bikes and waterways can reduce urban congestion, improve delivery speed, and offer safer, more sustainable work environments. As cities explore similar pilots, delivery drivers could see more opportunities to work in eco-friendly fleets that prioritize efficiency, sustainability, and community impact.
Source: The Bronx Daily
