Regional Harmonization Can Yield Multiple Benefits

Safety ~ Economy ~ Environment Transportation

Infrastructure

David ColeCommissioner, MaineDOT

Truck Weight Limits in Truck Weight Limits in MaineMaine

Maine….the Pine Tree Maine….the Pine Tree State….State….

Maine…Vacationland!Maine…Vacationland!

Freeport - Home of LL Bean

Truck-Weight Limits:Truck-Weight Limits:Disparity on Maine’s InterstateDisparity on Maine’s Interstate

Truck-Weight Limits: Truck-Weight Limits: DisparityDisparityon Maine’s State Highway on Maine’s State Highway

SystemSystem

Truck-Weight Limits:Truck-Weight Limits: Secondary Roads or Interstate?Secondary Roads or Interstate?

From Augusta to Houlton, Maine

• Secondary Roads: 20+ traffic lights, 270+ intersections, 3,000+ driveways/entrances, schools, playgrounds, downtowns, 90 turns

• I-95: 192 miles controlled-access highway, 32 interchanges, one hour less travel time

• Where should heavy vehicles travel?

Truck-Weight Limits: Truck-Weight Limits: Lack of Harmony in the Region Lack of Harmony in the Region

Safety Benefits

Economic Benefits

Infrastructure Protection

Environmental Protection

Harmonizing Truck Weight Limits Harmonizing Truck Weight Limits Can Yield Multiple BenefitsCan Yield Multiple Benefits

• Rural Interstates 3-to-4 times safer than rural secondary roads

• Interstate exemption would remove 7.8 million loaded truck-miles of travel from Maine roads

• To haul the same amount of freight…it would take 3 trucks at 80K vs. 2 trucks at 100K…without changing truck size…just adding an axle

Safety Benefits Safety Benefits 2003 Wilbur Smith Study2003 Wilbur Smith Study

• Exemption would enhance the Northeast’s U.S.-Canada trade corridor by eliminating the 200-mile gap on I-95

• Exemption would lower shipping costs by decreasing truck-miles traveled per volume of goods (2 trucks operating at 100K = 3 trucks operating at 80K)

• Relief for distressed traditional industries in Maine and the region

Economic BenefitsEconomic Benefits

• Study of transportation Study of transportation deficiencies affecting NE border deficiencies affecting NE border regionregion

• Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, New Brunswick, Nova New York, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, PEI, Quebec, Scotia, Ontario, PEI, Quebec, Newfoundland, and LabradorNewfoundland, and Labrador

• Near-, medium-, and long-term Near-, medium-, and long-term strategies recommendedstrategies recommended

Northeast CanAm Connections StudyNortheast CanAm Connections Study

• Harmonization: The highest cost-Harmonization: The highest cost-benefit ratio of strategies benefit ratio of strategies analyzed: $10 in benefits for every analyzed: $10 in benefits for every $1 invested$1 invested

• Harmonization: Positive Harmonization: Positive employment impactsemployment impacts

• Near-Term Recommendation: Near-Term Recommendation: Conduct a pilot study for cross-Conduct a pilot study for cross-border truck harmonizationborder truck harmonization

CanAm Study ConclusionsCanAm Study Conclusions

• Exemption would save up to $2 million/year in bridge and pavement consumption costs (2003 figures; today’s figures would be much higher)

• A 6th axle would be required for GVW greater than 80K-lbs.

Benefits for Benefits for Transportation InfrastructureTransportation Infrastructure

* Source: USDOT Comprehensive Truck Size & Weight Study

• Recently completed study (American Transportation Research Institute)

•CO2 emissions would be 6-11% lower on the Interstate than on the longer, parallel secondary roads

• Overall reduction in NOX

emissions

• Fewer vehicles = less fuel consumed

Environmental BenefitsEnvironmental Benefits

Common SenseCommon Sense

• 28 states already have some form of federal truck-weight limit exemption on their Interstates

• Move heavy trucks out of rural communities and onto SAFER Interstates

Professional Engineering OpinionProfessional Engineering Opinion

“Maine’s Interstate System can support the addition of the 100,000-lb. GVW vehicles to Maine’s Interstate traffic stream, without any noticeable or significant damage to the system’s infrastructure.”

Signed by 5 MaineDOT senior Professional Engineers with 160+ years engineering experience.

In these difficult economic times, isn’t truck-weight harmonization according to the specific needs of

each state worth considering?

Sensible Truck-Weight LimitsSensible Truck-Weight Limitson Maine’s Interstateson Maine’s Interstates