Strategies forStrategies forReducing Large TruckReducing Large Truck
Traffic in LocalTraffic in LocalCommunitiesCommunities
Status of Actions and RegulationNew York State Department of Transportation
September 24, 2008
WelcomeWelcome
BackgroundBackground Issues & DataIssues & Data Actions in ProgressActions in Progress Proposed Draft RegulationProposed Draft Regulation Timeline and Next StepsTimeline and Next Steps
BackgroundBackground
Concerns about large truck trafficConcerns about large truck trafficespecially trucks using short cuts throughespecially trucks using short cuts throughsmaller, historic communitiessmaller, historic communities
To balance the Economy with Quality ofTo balance the Economy with Quality ofLifeLife
DOT has traditionally focused on operatingDOT has traditionally focused on operatingcharacteristics of trucks and the geometrycharacteristics of trucks and the geometryof roadsof roads
The transportation network is vital both toThe transportation network is vital both tothe economy and to our communitiesthe economy and to our communities
NYSDOTNYSDOT’’s Large Truck Policys Large Truck Policy
Large trucks should utilize the NationalLarge trucks should utilize the NationalNetwork (primarily, the InterstateNetwork (primarily, the InterstateSystem) for all travel, except pickSystem) for all travel, except pick--ups andups anddeliveries, or to reach food, fuel, rest ordeliveries, or to reach food, fuel, rest orrepair locations.repair locations.
When traveling off the Interstates, largeWhen traveling off the Interstates, largetrucks should utilize the most direct routetrucks should utilize the most direct routeto access terminals and services.to access terminals and services.
National Network in New York StateNational Network in New York State
Balancing ActBalancing Act
••Reduce accidentsReduce accidents••Promote bicycle andPromote bicycle and
pedestrian activities inpedestrian activities insmaller communitiessmaller communities••Increase pavement lifeIncrease pavement life
on short cut routeson short cut routes••Reduce noise and visualReduce noise and visual
disruptions indisruptions incommunitiescommunities
Evaluating the Quality of Life. Keeping trucksEvaluating the Quality of Life. Keeping truckson the Interstates could:on the Interstates could:
Balancing ActBalancing Act
••Increase trip lengthsIncrease trip lengths••Increase fuel consumptionIncrease fuel consumption
and emissionsand emissions••Add operating costsAdd operating costs••Push drivers up againstPush drivers up against
service hour limitsservice hour limits••Increase delivery costsIncrease delivery costs••Cause hardship for someCause hardship for some
companiescompanies••Increase the costs of someIncrease the costs of some
goods and materialsgoods and materialsshipped by truckshipped by truck
Trucks Deliver to our communities theTrucks Deliver to our communities theGoods We ConsumeGoods We Consume
Keeping trucks on the Interstates may:Keeping trucks on the Interstates may:
Shortcut RoutesShortcut Routes Identified based on observationsIdentified based on observations
and known public interestand known public interest•• StatewideStatewide -- 35 potential shortcut35 potential shortcut
routesroutes•• Finger Lakes and Palmyra AreasFinger Lakes and Palmyra Areas ––
15 potential shortcut routes15 potential shortcut routes
Identified Shortcut RoutesIdentified Shortcut Routes ––Finger Lakes AreaFinger Lakes Area
Evaluating the IssuesEvaluating the Issues Traffic VolumesTraffic Volumes
Automatic traffic countersAutomatic traffic counters Manual countsManual counts Other studiesOther studies NYS ThruwayNYS Thruway
Accident DataAccident Data Engineering considerations (geometry,Engineering considerations (geometry,
pavement, etc.)pavement, etc.) Social and Economic ConsiderationsSocial and Economic Considerations EnvironmentalEnvironmental
May
1995
Ap
ril1
996
May
1997
Au
g19
97
Sep
t19
97
July
2001
Oct
2002
July
2008
NYSDOT Historic Traffic Count DataNYSDOT Historic Traffic Count DataRoutes 20, 41, 41A & 321Routes 20, 41, 41A & 321-- SkaneatelesSkaneateles
Daily TrafficEntering
Skaneateles(vehicles/day)
Large Trucks/dayEntering
Skaneateles
Daily Traffic in Finger Lakes AreaDaily Traffic in Finger Lakes AreaRoute 20, 41, 41A, and 321 (Skaneateles)Route 20, 41, 41A, and 321 (Skaneateles)
Other Vehicles,12738, 93%
Large Trucks,185, 1%
Other Trucks, 759,6%
Finger Lakes AreaFinger Lakes AreaRoute 20, 41, 41A, and 321Route 20, 41, 41A, and 321
Truck TypesTruck Types ––““SnapshotSnapshot””(July 22 and 23, 2008)(July 22 and 23, 2008)
Construction44%
Municipal SolidWaste
6%
Tanker Trucks9%
Agricultural1%
Local Garbage2%
Other LargeTrucks
38%
29%
27%
29%
15%
MSW Origins by RegionMSW Origins by RegionSeneca Meadows, Ontario, & High AcresSeneca Meadows, Ontario, & High Acres
Landfills (2007)Landfills (2007)
Source: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Finger Lakes/PalmyraArea
134 one waytrips/day
Down StateArea
143 one waytrips/day
Outside NY71 one waytrips/day
Rest of NYState
141 one waytrips/day
Use of Shortcut Routes for MSWUse of Shortcut Routes for MSW2007 and 20082007 and 2008
Short Cut Routes AreNot Practical146 one waytrips/day
Potential ThroughTrucks
179 one waytrips/day
ObservedThrough Trucks
30 one waytrips/day
Finger Lakes/PalmyraArea (Local Trucks)134 one way trips/day
Shortcut Routes Could bePractical
209 one way trips/day
Accident SeverityAccident Severity A Truck Accident is more likely than a carA Truck Accident is more likely than a caraccident to result in an injury or a fatalityaccident to result in an injury or a fatality
Truck AccidentSeverity
CarAccident Severity
Fatality0.43%
PropertyDamage Only
43%
Nonreportable32%
Injury25%
Fatality2%
Nonreportable18%
PropertyDamage Only
35%
Injury45%
1.94
5
1.12
8
0.92
0.50
6
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
Accident RatesAccident Rates
2006 Accident Rate Data
Acc
iden
tRat
e(A
ccid
ents
/Mill
ion
Veh
icle
Mile
s)
Hig
he
rR
ate
s
All Vehicles Trucks
OtherState
Highway
Interstates InterstatesOtherState
Highway
Car AccidentsCar Accidents occur more frequently than Truck Accidentsoccur more frequently than Truck Accidents
Interstates have lower accident rates than other State HighwaysInterstates have lower accident rates than other State Highways
Noise and Visual DisruptionsNoise and Visual Disruptions Nuisance noise and visual disruptions adversely
affect:••Pedestrians and BicyclistsPedestrians and Bicyclists••Outdoor Recreation and ParksOutdoor Recreation and Parks••Enjoyment of Historic DistrictsEnjoyment of Historic Districts••SchoolsSchools
••Neighborhoods and Community CohesionNeighborhoods and Community Cohesion
Municipal Solid Waste ConcernsMunicipal Solid Waste Concernsand Water Bodiesand Water Bodies
U.S. EPA studies conclude thatU.S. EPA studies conclude that householdhouseholdtrashtrash (municipal(municipal solid wastesolid waste ––MSW) is neitherMSW) is neitherhazardoushazardous nor flammable.nor flammable.
New York's regulations require MSW haulers to secureNew York's regulations require MSW haulers to securetheir loads to prevent accidental releases oftheir loads to prevent accidental releases of cargo.cargo.
Cost of RemainingCost of Remainingon the National Network*on the National Network*Finger Lakes/ Palmyra RegionsFinger Lakes/ Palmyra Regions
Remaining on the National NetworkRemaining on the National Networkadds, on average, about $50 to theadds, on average, about $50 to thecost of a onecost of a one--way trip compared toway trip compared tousing a shortcut routeusing a shortcut route
Estimated additional annual costs forEstimated additional annual costs forlarge trucks remaining on thelarge trucks remaining on theNational Network:National Network:
$10 Million/Year$10 Million/Year
* Includes fuel, tolls and operating costs* Includes fuel, tolls and operating costs
Benefits of Remaining onthe National NetworkFinger Lakes/Palmyra Regions
Quality of Life BenefitsQuality of Life Benefits ––Not QuantifiedNot Quantified Safety BenefitsSafety Benefits••About $1 in savings per truck staying on theAbout $1 in savings per truck staying on the
National Network due to fewer accidentsNational Network due to fewer accidents••Estimated Annual Accident Savings: $0.24MEstimated Annual Accident Savings: $0.24M
Infrastructure BenefitsInfrastructure Benefits••About $9 in savings for each truck remainingAbout $9 in savings for each truck remaining
on the National Network due to reducedon the National Network due to reducedpavement maintenancepavement maintenance
••Estimated Annual Pavement MaintenanceEstimated Annual Pavement MaintenanceSavings: $2.6MSavings: $2.6M
About $2.84M in Quantifiable BenefitsAbout $2.84M in Quantifiable Benefits
NonNon--Regulatory ActionsRegulatory Actions
Strategic physical changes toStrategic physical changes toroadways to promote safetyroadways to promote safety
NYSDOT initiativeNYSDOT initiative••working with 13 communities inworking with 13 communities in
16 locations in the Finger Lakes16 locations in the Finger Lakes
Examples :Examples :••Short Term:Short Term: signs, signals,signs, signals,
speed limits, crosswalksspeed limits, crosswalks••Longer Term:Longer Term: roadway changesroadway changes
lane configurationslane configurations
Traffic CalmingTraffic Calming
Over 100 traffic calming actionsOver 100 traffic calming actionsdiscussed with cities and villagesdiscussed with cities and villagesin the Finger Lakesin the Finger Lakes
Traffic Calming OpportunitiesTraffic Calming Opportunities Examples of traffic calmingExamples of traffic calming
initiatives to be completed byinitiatives to be completed bythe end of 2008:the end of 2008:•• Adjusting speed limitsAdjusting speed limits•• Upgrading, replacing and installing newUpgrading, replacing and installing new
signssigns•• Enhancing cross walks and improvingEnhancing cross walks and improving
pedestrian crossingpedestrian crossing•• Adding shoulder stripingAdding shoulder striping•• Adding edge line markings for parkingAdding edge line markings for parking•• Adding a new speed zoneAdding a new speed zone•• ReRe--timing an existing signaltiming an existing signal•• Adding raised pavement markings toAdding raised pavement markings to
slow traffic entering speed zonesslow traffic entering speed zones•• Installing larger speed zone warningInstalling larger speed zone warning
signssigns
Additional locations being consideredAdditional locations being considered
Other ActionsOther Actions Adding routeAdding route exlusionsexlusions to NYSDOT permitsto NYSDOT permits Locating some truck inspections off InterstatesLocating some truck inspections off Interstates Guide signs informing trucks to stay on the NationalGuide signs informing trucks to stay on the National
NetworkNetwork Investigate hauling waste by railInvestigate hauling waste by rail Possible Tandem Truck Staging Facilities DownstatePossible Tandem Truck Staging Facilities Downstate
(encourage trucks to stay on thruway)(encourage trucks to stay on thruway)
Discussions with other agencies,Discussions with other agencies,including DEC, State Police,including DEC, State Police,NYSTA, and Ag and MarketsNYSTA, and Ag and Markets
Encourage modification of newEncourage modification of newcontracts for waste hauling tocontracts for waste hauling toinclude route specificationinclude route specification
Permit ChangesPermit Changes Special Hauling and Divisible Load permits will includeSpecial Hauling and Divisible Load permits will include
provisions to exclude trucks from specific highways.provisions to exclude trucks from specific highways. Modify program website (Modify program website (www.nypermits.orgwww.nypermits.org) and associated) and associated
interactive routing tool to show these highways as excludedinteractive routing tool to show these highways as excludedfor through trips.for through trips.
Conduct outreach to active permit holders explaining theConduct outreach to active permit holders explaining theeffects to both Statewide Divisible Load (annual) and Specialeffects to both Statewide Divisible Load (annual) and SpecialHauling permits of various typesHauling permits of various types
Conduct outreach to Permit Service Companies.Conduct outreach to Permit Service Companies.
InspectionsInspections Performing inspection off the Interstates creates challenges toPerforming inspection off the Interstates creates challenges to ensureensure
safety for inspectors, commercial drivers and the motoring publisafety for inspectors, commercial drivers and the motoring public.c.
Inspection staff from the Department and State Police are identiInspection staff from the Department and State Police are identifyingfyingsuitable sites in the Finger Lake Region and in particular alongsuitable sites in the Finger Lake Region and in particular along RoutesRoutes41 and 79 to safely inspect commercial vehicles.41 and 79 to safely inspect commercial vehicles.
Suitable parking sites off road are required for those trucks anSuitable parking sites off road are required for those trucks and driversd drivers
that have been placed Outthat have been placed Out--ofof--Service.Service.
Legal ConsiderationsLegal Considerations Federal and state laws limit NYSDOTFederal and state laws limit NYSDOT’’ss
ability to ban trucks from highways:ability to ban trucks from highways:••Federal:Federal:
Must provideMust provide ““reasonable accessreasonable access””to facilitiesto facilities Can not discriminate against interstateCan not discriminate against interstate
commercecommerce
••State Law:State Law: Commissioner can exclude trucks from highwaysCommissioner can exclude trucks from highways
but can not prevent local pickbut can not prevent local pick--up and deliveryup and delivery No express authority to exclude trucks based onNo express authority to exclude trucks based on
commodities carriedcommodities carried Enforcement:Enforcement:
••needneed ““reasonable suspicionreasonable suspicion””of a violation of lawof a violation of law••Penalties set in lawPenalties set in law
Proposed Draft RegulationProposed Draft Regulation
On May 12, the Governor announced that theOn May 12, the Governor announced that theDepartment would implement a largeDepartment would implement a large--truck policytruck policy
Called for the development of regulations toCalled for the development of regulations toimplement the policyimplement the policy
Proposed draft regulation affectsProposed draft regulation affects ““through trucksthrough trucks””(trucks not making local deliveries)(trucks not making local deliveries)
RegulationRegulation ––Tiered ApproachTiered Approach Calls for a hierarchy of state highways:Calls for a hierarchy of state highways:
Used only when the highway providesexclusive access or when use is reasonablynecessary.
Other HighwaysTier 3
Used only when the access highway providesexclusive access to facility or use isreasonably necessary.
AccessHighways
Tier 2
Must be used as the primary means forreaching terminals, facilities and sites for thedelivery or pickup of goods.
National Network(mostly
Interstates)Tier 1
All Combination of Vehicles with a Cab and One or More Trailers 45 ft or longer
Draft Regulation - Highway Types in New York State
State Designated Access HighwaysState Designated Access Highways
A network of highways that has been specificallyA network of highways that has been specificallydesignated by NYSDOT as permissible for use bydesignated by NYSDOT as permissible for use bytruckstrucks
Provides legal access from the Interstates forProvides legal access from the Interstates forcertain defined vehicle combinations (largecertain defined vehicle combinations (largetrucks)trucks)
Roadways with:Roadways with:••Travel lanes 10 feet and widerTravel lanes 10 feet and wider••No significant large truck accident historyNo significant large truck accident history
RegulationRegulation ––Reasonably NecessaryReasonably Necessary
Identifies 14 factors to consider to determine if useIdentifies 14 factors to consider to determine if useof a state highway isof a state highway is reasonably necessaryreasonably necessary::Access to terminals and best use of the highwaysAccess to terminals and best use of the highwaysWhere a truck is goingWhere a truck is goingQuality of life considerations; proximity to residences,Quality of life considerations; proximity to residences,
parks, schools and environmentally sensitive areasparks, schools and environmentally sensitive areasBicycle and Pedestrian SafetyBicycle and Pedestrian SafetyException for extreme circumstancesException for extreme circumstances
Commissioner would provide an opinion uponCommissioner would provide an opinion uponwritten requestwritten request
Applies statewideApplies statewide Specific highways may be designatedSpecific highways may be designated
Large Truck Traffic –Entering the FingerLakes Area from I-81 –Local and Through
Through, 35,14%
Local, 53, 20%
Unknown, 171,66%
All TrucksObserved
Through40%
Local60%
Responded toPhone Calls and
KnewDestination
EstimatingEstimatingThrough Trucks and Local DeliveriesThrough Trucks and Local Deliveries
Previous studiesPrevious studies -- report through trucks ranging fromreport through trucks ranging from25% to over 43% of the overall truck volume25% to over 43% of the overall truck volume
Studies of a single town or location without anStudies of a single town or location without anacceptable alternate route identified even higher %.acceptable alternate route identified even higher %.
To identify the maximum potential effects (bothTo identify the maximum potential effects (bothpositive and negative)positive and negative)
Existing Traffic on the National NetworkExisting Traffic on the National Network(I(I--81, I81, I--690, I690, I--90 corridor)90 corridor)
Existing Traffic Composition in Syracuse Area
All Other Vehicles91.0%
Large trucks9.0%
Change in Traffic on the National NetworkChange in Traffic on the National Network(I(I--81, I81, I--690, I690, I--90 corridor)90 corridor)
Projected Post-Regulation Traffic Composition in SyracuseArea
Added Large Trucks0.3%
Large trucks9.0%
All Other Vehicles90.7%
Regulatory IssuesRegulatory Issues
Need to ensure compliance with and authorityNeed to ensure compliance with and authorityunder federal and state lawsunder federal and state laws
Must demonstrate benefits of regulatory actionMust demonstrate benefits of regulatory action(impact statements under development)(impact statements under development)
Must work within existing law for enforcementMust work within existing law for enforcement Must clearly define usage that would be aMust clearly define usage that would be a““violationviolation””of the regulationof the regulation ––what iswhat is reasonablyreasonablynecessarynecessary
Regulatory ProcessRegulatory Process A regulation requires a formal rulemaking, whichA regulation requires a formal rulemaking, which
includes:includes:1.1. Crafting a proposed regulationCrafting a proposed regulation2.2. Preparation of formal regulatory impact statementsPreparation of formal regulatory impact statements
(job impact, impact on businesses and local(job impact, impact on businesses and localgovernments, rural area impacts and an analysis ofgovernments, rural area impacts and an analysis ofcost and benefits of the rule and alternatives)cost and benefits of the rule and alternatives)
3.3. Compliance with SEQRA requirementsCompliance with SEQRA requirements4.4. GovernorGovernor’’s Office of Regulatory Reform approvals Office of Regulatory Reform approval5.5. Publication in the State RegisterPublication in the State Register6.6. 45 day public comment period45 day public comment period7.7. Consideration of public comment; revisions to draftConsideration of public comment; revisions to draft
regulationregulation8.8. If significant revisions, subject to another 30 dayIf significant revisions, subject to another 30 day
comment periodcomment period9.9. Adoption of the regulationAdoption of the regulation
