INCHESTER — The state Senate and House of Delegates are considering legislation to participate in a multiyear pilot program to test the impact of increasing the weight of trucks on Virginia interstate highways from the current limit of 80,000 pounds to 91,000 pounds.
Senate Bill 504, introduced by Sen. Charles Carrico Sr., and House Bill 1276, introduced by Del. Scott Garrett, are identical bills that would authorize the state Commissioner of Highways to enroll in a federal pilot program to collect and study data on increased truck weights.
The program would test the impact of heavier trucks on road safety, road infrastructure, easing traffic congestion and transportation system efficiency. The pilot program would not be allowed to exceed 15 years.
Del. Dave LaRock, R-Hamilton, who represents the 33rd District and serves on the House of Delegates Transportation Committee, said the legislation seeks to empower the Virginia Department of Transportation to apply for Virginia to be one of 10 states in the program, during which time Virginia would allow increased truck weights while monitoring road wear.
The pilot program would require trucks hauling 91,000 pounds to add a sixth axle to reduce braking distance and more evenly distribute the truck’s load. The trucks themselves would not be larger.
The Commissioner of Highways would have the option to withdraw from the program at any point for public safety or infrastructure concerns.
The hope is that increasing the weight limit will decrease the number of trucks, since each truck would be allowed to carry more products.
“I think the impetus is that tractor-trailers often hit a weight limit before they fill their volume up,” LaRock said.
Del. Chris Collins, R-Frederick County, who represents the 29th District and also serves on the House Transportation Committee, said there’s also the belief that weight standards are not up-to-date and that roads can actually handle more weight.
According to program data, the current 80,000-pound weight limit has been in effect since 1982, despite advancements in truck safety and design and pavement technology.
“We are having some conversations about what the pros and cons are and what the ramifications may be for signing onto such a pilot program,” Collins said.
Some fear that an increased weight limit will make it harder for trucks to stop. Others question if heavier loads will reduce the amount of truck traffic or do more damage to roads.
“I’ve got some real concerns about the bills, particularly with Interstate 81, so I’m looking at it very cautiously,” Collins said. “There’s some genuine concerns, particularly about the length of the program, and for a variety of other issues. It’s not a done deal.”
The Coalition Against Bigger Trucks (CABT) issued a news release this week to report that a new poll conducted by Harper Polling finds that nearly 80 percent of American voters oppose putting longer and heavier trucks on roads. Reasons for opposition vary, with the biggest concerns being safety, followed by infrastructure damage and costs, the poll says.
“Voters clearly oppose longer and heavier trucks due to concerns with highway safety and infrastructure damage that increases taxpayer costs,” Shane Reese, communications director of CABT, said in the release. “We hope that Virginia legislators look at the data and understand that increasing truck weight stands in stark contrast to the priorities of voters, including those in Virginia.”
The poll was conducted this month. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
“[The legislation] comes through one of my committees, and we are going to be having a more in-depth conversation about it,” Collins said. “Because if we find out in 15 years that all we’ve done is cause more damage to I-81 and we haven’t done anything to fix the already broken infrastructure that we have, then all we’ve done is double down on the problems that we’ve already got.”
Source: The Winchester Star