HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-01-12 04-48 RESOLVECOUNCILACf10N
Item No. 06-68
Date: 12-22-03
Item/gubjecb Resolve, Indicating the Support of the City of Bangor for Increasing the Weight
Limit on the Interstate Highway System North of Augusta to 100,000 Pounds.
Responsible Department: City Manager
Commentary:
The City of Bangor has consistently supported efforts to seek a waiver of the federally mandated
might limit on the Interstate System north of Augusta. The federal limit is 80,000 Pounds, thus
Pending heavier vehicles to use other state highways and local roads impacting heavily developed
community centers and residential areas. Over the years, we have seen a continuing increase in the
volume of such truck traffic.
This issue has once again come forward as a result of the recent steps taken by the State of Maine
to purchase a landfill in Old Town and redirect a portion of the waste stream currently going to du
Pine Tree landfill in Hampden to this new site. The proposed route for heavy trucks will involve
Routes 9 and SA in Hampden, Main Street in Burger, and Main Street in Brewer. Some of these
routes are already heavily impacted by truck traffic.
The attached resolve will restate tie City's position. It will be forwarded to our Congressional
Delegation, State Legislative Delegation, the Governor and MOOT Commissioner, and the other
communities along the proposed route.
The Oty of Brewer is circulating a letter that requests that the state limit Me weight of vehides
going to the Old Town site to 80,000 pounds, thus allowing them W use the interstate. The
Infrastructure Committee discussed His approach and has requestetl that scandal informal be
provided before the City takes a postdon on this request. The proposal to limit weights may have an
impact on the tipping fees we currently pay at PERC and would focus on one type of user where
other significant trunk traffic using state and local roads would not be affected. We are in the
process of gathering this information.
Infrastructure requested that this resolve be prepared and presented to the Council for is action
Department Head
Manager's Comments:
City Manager
Associated Information:
Finance Director
Legal Approval:
hay eorci or
Introduced for
_ Passage
_ First Reading Page_ of
Referral
�x A¢sigy d to ccwcilov cztn ell December 22, 2003
CITY OF BANGOR
(ME.) Resolve, Indicating the Support of the City of Bangor for Increasing the Weight Limit
on the Interstate Highway System Norm of Augusta W 100,000 Pounds.
WHEREAS, over 87% of the goods shipped in Maine are transported by truck; and
WHEREAS, many of these vehicles regularly exceed the 80,000 pound gross vehicle weight
limit in effect on me Interstate System North of Augusta; and
WHEREAS, Maine generates a high percentage of heavy loads than many other parts of the
country due to activities related to the forest products industry; and
WHEREAS, the 100,000 pound limit is not In effect from Augusta to the South, creating an
inequitable situaffon affecting only the Central, Eastern, and Northern areas of the
State; and
WHEREAS, in these areas of the state, such vehicles must use state highways and local roads;
and
WHEREAS, these roads frequently are located in heavily developed areas, including the
downtowns of many communities, and pass through or near many residential
areas; and
WHEREAS, the presence of a high volume of trucks on such roads create safety hazards and
negatively impact the quality of life of communities and those who live on or near
such routes; and
WHEREAS, many of these roads do not meet current highway design standards and were not
constructed to withstand the heavy loads to which they are subjected; and
WHEREAS, the use of state highways and local maids often adds time and distance to truck
mutes, thus increasing costs W truckers and those for whom hauling Is being done
and further contributing to the environmental issues associated with these
vehicles; and
WHEREAS, the Interstate Highway system is designed to carry such traffic in a safe and
efficient manner on a roadway capable of handling such loads; and
WHEREAS, recent discussions of routing truck traffic from the Pine Tree Landfill in Hampden to
a landfill in Old Town by using State Highways and Local Roads in Hampden,
Bangor, Brewer, and other communities along the proposed route illustrate the
problems created by the current weight limit in effect on Interstate 95; and
WHEREAS, while not significant in and of itself, this increase in truck traffic will incrementally
increase the burdens already faced by these communities, all of which experience
substantial and growing truck traffic and the problems associated with such traffic,
and
WHEREAS, these communities, along with the State of Maine and other communities from
Augusta north, have long sought a federal waiver of weight limits that would allow
a significant amount of this traffic to utlize the Interstate system and avoid heavily
developed commercial and residential centers.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CIT/ COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR, THAT
we reaffirm our support for increasing the weight limit on the Interstate System to 100,000
pounds from Augusta north. This increase will redirect a substantial amount of heavy truck
traffic away from developed community and residential centers, increase highway safety, and
reduce the cost of maintaining a state and local road system that often does not meet current
highway standards and was not constructed to handle such loads. We call upon the State
Department of Transportation to continue its efforts to receive such a waiver, and urge our
Congressional Delegation to do its utmost to achieve this end.
BE 7 FURTHER RESOLVED THAT copies of this resolve be provided to our Congressional
Delegation, our State Legislative Delegation, the Commissioner of the Maine Department of
Transportation, Governor John E. Baldaal, and the communities of Hampden, Brewer,
Eddington, Milford, Bradley, and Old Town.
a 94n
RE S0 L Y8
(TRLE,) Indication the support of the City
ofsenior ar ivaeas t e a t a r
the Interstate Highway System Porth of
Assigned b Councilor