"A Major Truck Weights Victory"
Changing federal law to allow the heaviest trucks to use Maine's federal interstate highways has always been one of my top priorities. That is why I am delighted that, as the senior Republican on the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, I was able to negotiate an agreement that will allow the heaviest trucks to drive on the interstates in Maine for the next 20 years. This agreement recently passed both the House and Senate and has been signed into law by the President.
Achieving this victory wasn't easy. For many months, I worked hard to convince my colleagues to support provisions that I wrote in the transportation funding bill to allow the heaviest trucks to use these highways. This is where these trucks can travel most safely.
These provisions will allow trucks weighing up to 100,000 pounds to travel on Maine's federal interstate highways, such as I-95, 195 in Old Orchard Beach and Saco, 295 around Freeport, and 395 around Bangor and Brewer. This issue is important to our state for many reasons. It would improve public safety, our economy, and our environment.
Safety has always been my top concern. The law I authored will not increase the size or weight of trucks on our road. That's because Maine law already allows 100,000 pound trucks to operate on state and municipal roads. But these same trucks were not allowed on the interstates, where it is safer for them to travel. It simply made no sense to force heavier trucks off the highway and onto our smaller roads and crowded, downtown streets. This increases the wear-and-tear on our secondary roads and jeopardizes the safety of both drivers and pedestrians. For example, a truck traveling from Hampden to Houlton on I-95 rather than Route 2 will avoid 300 intersections, 86 crosswalks, 30 traffic lights, nine school crossings and four railroad crossings. It will not have to drive through busy downtowns like Bangor, Orono, Old Town, and Lincoln.
I am pleased to have had the support of many public safety groups, including the Maine State Police, the State Troopers Association, the Maine Department of Public Safety, and the Bangor Police Department. Additionally, the Maine Motor Transport Association, Maine's Parent Teacher Association and the Bangor School Department have all said allowing trucks to use the highways is the safest route.
Allowing heavy trucks to use the interstates will produce economic and environmental benefits. In 2009, I authored a pilot project that allowed 100,000 pound trucks to travel on Maine's federal interstates for one year. According to the Maine Department of Transportation, the number of accidents involving trucks was down. During this year-long project, truck drivers, who are struggling in this tough economy, told me that permitting their trucks to travel on I-95 reduced the number of miles they drove, resulting in a significant savings in fuel costs, and decreasing emissions as well. Maine DOT says the successful pilot project allowed Maine businesses to receive raw materials and ship products more economically, thus helping to preserve and create jobs.
This 20 year fix is a major accomplishment that will make a real difference to so many Mainers. It will make our streets safer, our air cleaner, and our businesses more competitive.
Achieving this victory wasn't easy. For many months, I worked hard to convince my colleagues to support provisions that I wrote in the transportation funding bill to allow the heaviest trucks to use these highways. This is where these trucks can travel most safely.
These provisions will allow trucks weighing up to 100,000 pounds to travel on Maine's federal interstate highways, such as I-95, 195 in Old Orchard Beach and Saco, 295 around Freeport, and 395 around Bangor and Brewer. This issue is important to our state for many reasons. It would improve public safety, our economy, and our environment.
Safety has always been my top concern. The law I authored will not increase the size or weight of trucks on our road. That's because Maine law already allows 100,000 pound trucks to operate on state and municipal roads. But these same trucks were not allowed on the interstates, where it is safer for them to travel. It simply made no sense to force heavier trucks off the highway and onto our smaller roads and crowded, downtown streets. This increases the wear-and-tear on our secondary roads and jeopardizes the safety of both drivers and pedestrians. For example, a truck traveling from Hampden to Houlton on I-95 rather than Route 2 will avoid 300 intersections, 86 crosswalks, 30 traffic lights, nine school crossings and four railroad crossings. It will not have to drive through busy downtowns like Bangor, Orono, Old Town, and Lincoln.
I am pleased to have had the support of many public safety groups, including the Maine State Police, the State Troopers Association, the Maine Department of Public Safety, and the Bangor Police Department. Additionally, the Maine Motor Transport Association, Maine's Parent Teacher Association and the Bangor School Department have all said allowing trucks to use the highways is the safest route.
Allowing heavy trucks to use the interstates will produce economic and environmental benefits. In 2009, I authored a pilot project that allowed 100,000 pound trucks to travel on Maine's federal interstates for one year. According to the Maine Department of Transportation, the number of accidents involving trucks was down. During this year-long project, truck drivers, who are struggling in this tough economy, told me that permitting their trucks to travel on I-95 reduced the number of miles they drove, resulting in a significant savings in fuel costs, and decreasing emissions as well. Maine DOT says the successful pilot project allowed Maine businesses to receive raw materials and ship products more economically, thus helping to preserve and create jobs.
This 20 year fix is a major accomplishment that will make a real difference to so many Mainers. It will make our streets safer, our air cleaner, and our businesses more competitive.
