New England states LCV pilot closer to reality

WASHINGTON — A U.S. bill that includes establishing long combination vehicle (LCV) pilot projects in two northeast border states could be approved as early as this weekend.

The FY2010 Transportation Appropriations bill, approved in the House of Representatives last week, includes a provision that would launch a one-year pilot program to test heavier tractor-trailers on dedicated interstate routes in Maine and Vermont, according to the American Trucking Associations.

The Maine/Vermont provision, Section 194, would allow 108,000 to 120,000-pound six-axle trucks to operate on interstate roads and bridges in Vermont and 100,000-pound six-axle trucks on all Maine Interstate highways. The current Vermont limit for truck weights is 80,000 pounds GVW. In addition, trucks hauling certain commodities can be operated at up to 99,000 pounds.

Special interest groups have been fighting the weight measure, saying that larger rigs damage interstate highways and threaten safety.

The Truck Safety Coalition, which is a partnership between the anti-truck, Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways (CRASH) Foundation, and Parents Against Tired Truckers (P.A.T.T), issued a press release, warning against the weight increases.

"Motorists in Maine and Vermont deserve more than being human guinea pigs in this dangerous experiment," said John Lannen, executive director of the Coalition.

He said a report back to Congress on the effectiveness the program isn’t due for two years, which indicated the project could continue longer than one year.