Governor Douglas today signed into law S93, An Act Relating to Commercial Vehicle Operation on the Interstate System. The bill received broad bipartisan support and was passed unanimously through all stages of passage yesterday. The bill allows for the enactment of a federal pilot program that will encourage large, commercial trucks to travel on Vermont's interstates and not on secondary and rural roads.
Before the passage of a federal pilot program, federal law restricted trucks weighing more than 80,000 pounds from regularly using the nation s interstate highway system, while state law allows trucks exceeding 80,000 pounds to operate on Vermont's secondary roads. The pilot project harmonizes federal and state weight limits, allowing commercial trucks access to our interstates rather than forcing them onto our smaller, aging roadways.
I appreciate the efforts of our federal delegation to allow for this pilot program and am pleased with the quick passage of this important bill, said Senator Peter Shumlin. Getting large trucks out of our downtowns and off our two lane roads will help our downtown businesses, improve road safety and reduce the pressure on our aging roads and businesses.
Source: Shumlin's office. 1.12.2010
Vermont Legislature passes bill to allow bigger trucks on interstate
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