New York state is considering rules that would keep large trucks on interstate highways only, except to access terminals or to reach food, fuel, rest or repair locations.
The New York State Department of Transportation issued guidelines on the policy following Gov. David Patterson’s (D) announcement last week on the new regulations.
“When travelling off the national network, large trucks should utilize the most direct route when accessing terminals and services,” NYSDOT said in a statement on its Web site.
It will develop regulations for large-truck routings that will “balance the need for large trucks to serve the state’s economy with the need to promote sustainable economic development, tourism and an improved quality of life,” the statement said. “This policy will reduce truck traffic in many local communities by keeping large trucks on the national network to the maximum extent practicable.”
NYSDOT said it is working with officials to identify and develop appropriate traffic-calming measures at 15 proposed locations, and later this month plans to meet with businesses and the trucking industry to discuss the proposed regulation.
The Department also will be scheduling a public meeting about the regulation to seek the public’s input.
Click here for the NYSDOT policy statement. (New York State Department of Transportation Web site.)
