HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-09-27 04-295 RESOLVEItem No. o 295
Item/Subject: Resolve, Indicating the Continuing Support of the City of Bangor for Increasing the
Weight Limit on the Interstate Highway System North of Augusta W 100,000 Pounds.
Responsible Department: City Council
Recent discussion of enforcing the 80,000 pound weight limit on I-395 has once again brought this issue
to the attention of the City Council and the public At the last Transportation and Infrastructure meeting,
this was discussed, as was a recent report producetl by the Maine Department of Transportation
documenting the safety hazards and malntename costs that result from the federal weight limit. At the
request of Councilor Mien, a Resolve indicating our continuing support for increasing Me interstate weight
limit has been prepared for full Ccunal consideration.
Department Head
Comments:
NO
Budget Approval:
finance Director
Legal Approval: .
Cry Solicitor
Inbodurxtl for
Y passage
_ Fist Reatling page I of 2
RBfemal
04-295
fi(e'v, , dssigwd to Councilor Allen September 77, 2004
CITY OF BANGOR
(IBLE.) Resolve, Indicating the Continuing Support of the City of Bangor for Increasing the
Weight Limit on the Interstate Highway System North of Augusta to 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
Int in effect on the Interstate System North of Augusta; and
WHEREAS, Maine generates a hlgh 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 situadon 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, the State Department of Transportation has recently completed a study of the
impacts caused by the federal weigh limit; and
WHEREAS, this study conAncingly documents the safety issues resulting from this policy and
the additional maintenance costs borne by the state and local communities as a
result of heavy loads traveling on non -interstate routes; and
WHEREAS, the use of state highways and local mads often adds time and distance to truck
routes, thus increasing costs to 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
W-295
WHEREAS, recent public discussions of enforcing the weight limit on 1-395 have resulted in
additional truck traffic on Bangor's arterial streets, many of which are located in
densely developed areas and are adjacent to important public facilities including
schools and hospitals; and
WHEREAS, this increase In truck traffic will incrementally increase the burdens already faced
by residents and visitors to these areas; and
WHEREAS, Bangor, along with the State of Maine and other communities from Augusta north,
ma long sought a federal waiver of weight limits that would allow a signifcant
amount of this traffic to utiize the Interstate system and avoid heavily developed
commercial and residential centers.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR, THAT
we reaffirm our continuing 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 be do its utmost to achieve this end.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT copies of this resolve be provided to our Congressional
Delegation, our State Legislative Delegation, the Commissioner of the Maine Department of
Tramportation, and Governor]ohn E. Baldacci.
IN CITY COUNCIL I
September 27. 2006
Notion Made and Corroded g 06-295
for Passage
Pas 4d NeS0LPg
CITY CL (TITLEj)mdiciatime the Continuing $upon[
of the City of Hmgor for Increasiug the
Wight Limit on the Interstate Highway
at® North of Augusta to ; endo
Assigned to Councilor