De Blasio Administration Agrees To Move Controversial UES Asphalt Green Access Ramp

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - The de Blasio administration says it will move an access ramp to the controversial East 91st Street Marine Transfer Station garbage facility.

The access ramp, which would have hundreds of garbage trucks running on it daily, was set to run through the Asphalt Green recreational facility.

The de Blasio administration has agreed to move the ramp one block north to 92nd street.

Neighborhood residents had been fighting the 91st street access ramp, citing concerns over the constant presence of garbage trucks in the middle of Asphalt Green..

"This administration is committed to implementing a fair, five-borough plan to sustainably export the City's waste for years to come. This decision reflects our commitment to working with the community to address concerns about air quality, traffic, and pedestrian safety," Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia said.

"Half the people are happy about it. They understand and recognize that it protects so many children," Kelly Nimmo-Guenther of the advocacy group Pledge 2 Protect told 1010 WINS. "But there's others that are really unhappy about. Because, over and over, this facility has been proven - and unrefuted by the city by the way, in our 'Talking Trash' report - that it's not needed. This facility is not needed."

The new ramp will cost $30 million. Construction will begin in 2018 and is expected to be complete by 2020. Officials say it will be wider than the 91st street ramp, allowing sanitation trucks with snowplows on to enter the facility.

The Marine Transfer Station will still open in 2017 and still use the 91st street ramp.

The 92nd street ramp will be used as the primary entrance to the facility once it's completed.