Regional Harmonization Can Yield Multiple Benefits Safety ~ Economy ~ Environment Transportation Infrastructure David Cole Commissioner, MaineDOT Truck Weight Limits in Maine

Maine….the Pine Tree State….

Maine…Vacationland! Freeport - Home of LL Bean

Truck-Weight Limits: Disparity on Maine’s Interstate

Truck-Weight Limits: Disparity on Maine’s State Highway System

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

Safety Benefits Economic Benefits Infrastructure Protection Environmental Protection Harmonizing Truck Weight Limits Can 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 2003 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 Benefits

Study of transportation deficiencies affecting NE border region Study of transportation deficiencies affecting NE border region Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, PEI, Quebec, Newfoundland, and Labrador Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, PEI, Quebec, Newfoundland, and Labrador Near-, medium-, and long-term strategies recommended Near-, medium-, and long-term strategies recommended Northeast CanAm Connections Study

Harmonization: The highest cost- benefit ratio of strategies analyzed: $10 in benefits for every $1 invested Harmonization: The highest cost- benefit ratio of strategies analyzed: $10 in benefits for every $1 invested Harmonization: Positive employment impacts Harmonization: Positive employment impacts Near-Term Recommendation: Conduct a pilot study for cross-border truck harmonization Near-Term Recommendation: Conduct a pilot study for cross-border truck harmonization CanAm 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 6 th axle would be required for GVW greater than 80K-lbs. Benefits for Transportation Infrastructure

* Source: USDOT Comprehensive Truck Size & Weight Study

Recently completed study (American Transportation Research Institute) CO 2 emissions would be 6-11% lower on the Interstate than on the longer, parallel secondary roads Overall reduction in NO X emissions Fewer vehicles = less fuel consumed Environmental Benefits

Common 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 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 Limits Sensible Truck-Weight Limits on Maine’s Interstates