Lawmakers push new truck limit
Maine legislators are leading the charge to pass federal legislation to allow trucks weighing more than 80,000 pounds to travel the Maine Turnpike north of Augusta.
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins and U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud have both introduced Senate and House versions of the Safe and Efficient Transportation Act that, if passed, would give states the option of allowing trucks weighing up to 97,000 pounds to operate on their federal Interstate highways, according to the Bangor Daily News. The bill has already generated opposition from lawmakers concerned about the dangers of having heavier trucks on the road and the damage to the nation's highway infrastructure, according to the paper.
Under current law, trucks weighing more than 80,000 pounds are prohibited from traveling on the Turnpike north of Augusta, and divert onto narrow, secondary state roads. A Maine Department of Transportation study showed the state could save up to $2.3 million in road maintenance costs if the weight limit is increased, according to the paper.
Maine has participated in a one-year pilot project to assess the impact of the weight increase, exempting it from the federal weight rule. The pilot program is scheduled to end in December.
Go to the article in the Bangor Daily News >>
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