Warm summer and autumn weather draws Vermonters outside to enjoy the surroundings, whether in cities and towns or in the countryside. Unfortunately, unless you’re some distance from a well-traveled road, you may be experiencing an increase in heavy truck traffic. More heavy trucks are being forced off our Interstate highways and onto municipal roads where they tie up traffic and spew exhaust fumes into residential neighborhoods. The reason is that the posted weight limit for Vermont’s Interstate highways is 80,000 pounds, while on most paved state and municipal highways it’s 90,000. If you don’t think this is right, you’re not alone.

The interstate highway system is designed to enhance transportation safety and efficiency. Vehicles, particularly trucks, are operated more efficiently when they travel at a relatively constant speed, not slowing to make tight corners or stopping for traffic lights. When they leave the interstate their fuel consumption rises dramatically and delivery times are extended. With today’s growing concern about air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, you might think the State and the Federal Transportation Authority would get together to make the movement of goods along all our transportation infrastructure non-polluting and as cost effective as possible.

File Photo.

To date, however, the folks in Washington, D.C. have stubbornly held to the 80,000 pound weight limitation for Vermont’s Interstate highways. The Feds claim that heavier trucks damage the roads. That is a silly argument. Interstates are constructed to higher standards than most all state and municipal roads and today’s large trucks spread their loads across multiple axles. Since Vermont’s Agency of Transportation relies on federal funding for most highway reconstruction, it’s wasteful to permit trucks to damage our state and local roads.

Many states, and most of those that border Vermont, have successfully raised their Interstate highway weight limit from 80,000 pounds to 90,000. Why not Vermont? Vermont has attempted in the past to have the weight limit raised only to have the Feds stonewall us. This year with the change of control in Congress, we hope things will be different. The Vermont House passed a resolution urging our Federal Congressional Delegation to work with Federal Agency of Transportation to finally make the change. The resolution had broad support from all Independents, Progressives, Republicans and Democrats.

Getting heavy trucks out of cities and towns will improve safety and increase fuel economy. It will also reduce pollution and driver frustration during rush hour traffic. Isn’t it time we finally saw this through?

Jim Masland is a state representative from Thetford Center in the Windsor-Orange 2 District.