Truck Weight Limit Increase Data Collection Project

Interstate 95 Truck Weight Limit Increase
Expires on 12/16/2010

Maine’s Congressional Delegation Needs Your Help

.........................................................................................................

        
Much effort by Maine’s Congressional delegation has gone into increasing the truck weight limit on Maine’s entire Interstate System.  In 2009, Representative Michaud introduced the Safe and Efficient Transportation Act, which attempted to permanently increase the truck weight limits on Maine’s Interstate System.  Finally, last year, Senator Collins successfully secured a one year pilot project increasing the weight limit for six axle trucks to 100,000 pounds.     Prior to the enactment of  Department of Transportation Appropriations Act, 2010 (PL111-117), the weight limit on the sections of Interstate 95 running north of Augusta, as well as Interstate 295 and Interstate 395 was 80,000 pounds, while the weight limit on the Maine Turnpike was 100,000 pounds.

However, the weight limit increase will expire at the end of the year.    Without additional authorizing federal legislation, the weight limit on the formerly non-exempt portion of the Interstate System will revert to 80,000 pounds on December 16, 2010.

In order to support the efforts of Maine’s Congressional Delegation to secure a permanent 100,000 truck weight limit, information, data and stories about how the weight limit increase has positively impacted your communities, residents and businesses is needed. 

The purpose of this website is to collect and disseminate municipal data to the interested parties.  There are many ways you can help. 

Adopt a resolution.  All communities, whether they are directly impacted by the truck weight limit increase, are encouraged to adopt a resolution supporting the increase.  While your community may not experience a direct impact, public safety is an issue of statewide concern, as is the responsible investment of limited state and municipal road and bridge investment funds. Click here for a sample Resolution [Rich Text Format]

Share your experiences.  Municipal officials are urged to share their experiences, as well as the stories from business owners, residents, visitors, etc., regarding the impacts the weight limit increase has had on people’s lives.   For example, we heard from one community that the diversion of heavily loaded trucks from I-95 to local roads required an increase in the number of school bus routes and cost to the property taxpayers to fund K-12 education because it wasn’t safe for students to walk to school.  Other municipal officials reported that increased truck traffic noise, particularly the use of engine brakes, generated numerous complaints from residents.  On a tragic note, municipal officials have also shared stories about how the incompatible mix of pedestrian and commercial trucks on local roads resulted in deadly accidents.    Submit your stories here.

Signature gathering efforts.  Elected officials from some of the more severely impacted communities have initiated signature gathering efforts.  By asking local merchants to post the petitions in their establishments, municipal officials have been able to increase public awareness of the importance of the weight limit increase and to generate support of the efforts of Maine’s Congressional Delegation.  Click here for a sample petition designed by municipal officials in the town of China.

Contact Maine’s Congressional Delegation.  As always, direct communication with the members of the Congressional Delegation is highly encouraged.  The members can be contacted as follows:

The Honorable Olympia J. Snowe  
United States Senator                                                            
154 Russell Senate Office Building                          
Washington, DC  20510-1902                                               
Phone:  202-224-5344                                               
FAX:  202-224-1946
e-mail:  Olympia@snowe.senate.gov

The Honorable Susan M. Collins
United States Senator            
413 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC  20510-1904           
Phone:  202-224-2523                       
FAX:  202-224-2693
Web site: www.collins.senate.gov

The Honorable Michael Michaud                           
Representative to Congress                                       
1724 Longworth House Office Building                  
Washington, DC  20515                                            
Phone:  202-225-6306                                            
FAX: 202-225-2943
e-mail: none

The Honorable Chellie Pingree                               
Representative to Congress                           
1037 Longworth House Office Building                  
Washington, DC  20515-1901                                   
Phone:  202-225-6116                                               
FAX:  202-225-5590
e-mail: none

While you are more than welcome to contact members of Maine’s Congressional Delegation directly, MMA will be acting as a warehouse for collecting and disseminating information to the interested parties.  Please feel free to forward any information to Kate Dufour by e-mail ( kdufour@memun.org) or fax (624-0129).     If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Kate at 1-800-452-8786.

            Thank you.