By U.S. Sen. Susan M. Collins
(R-Maine)
Public safety, our economy, energy independence, and the environment have always been among my top priorities in the Senate. The first bill that I introduce in the new Congress will advance all of those goals by allowing the heaviest trucks to travel on our federal Interstates in Maine rather than being forced to use secondary roads and downtown streets.
In late 2009, I authored a law to establish a one-year pilot project that allowed trucks weighing up to 100,000 pounds to travel on Maine’s federal interstates — I-95, 195, 295, and 395. According to the results of a preliminary study by the Maine Department of Transportation, the pilot project, which ran until mid-December 2010, allowed Maine businesses to receive raw materials and ship products more economically, thus helping to preserve and create jobs.
Just as significant, the change improved safety, saved energy, and reduced emissions. For example, on a trip from Hampden to Houlton, a truck traveling on Interstate 95 saves 50 minutes over Route 2 and avoids more than 270 intersections and nine school crossings. The driver also saves more than $30 on fuel by traveling on the Interstate.
Unfortunately, despite its clear success and the support of the Administration and my colleagues in the Senate, the House of Representatives failed to include in a federal funding bill my provision to make this program permanent or at least to extend it. As a result, the program expired on Dec. 17, and heavy trucks were once again unable to use our most modern, safe, and efficient highways.
It is important to emphasize that my legislation would not increase the size or weight of trucks. Maine law already allows trucks up to 100,000 pounds to operate on state and municipal roads. Heavy trucks already operate on some 22,500 miles of non-interstate roads in Maine, in addition to the approximately 167 miles of the Maine Turnpike. But the nearly 260 miles of non-Turnpike interstates that are major economic corridors are off limits. This simply makes no sense.
Furthermore, trucks up to 100,000 pounds already are permitted on many interstates in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, and the neighboring Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec. This puts Maine businesses at a distinct competitive disadvantage.
Vermont faces the same disadvantage. I am pleased that Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy has joined me in co-sponsoring this bipartisan legislation.
Here are a few more important points. The 100,000 pound trucks are no larger or wider than 80,000 pound trucks, and an extra axle provides additional breaking ability. This change would remove an estimated 7.8 million truck miles from our local roads and streets. Increasing truck payloads by 35 percent would reduce the overall number of trucks needed. In addition to saving fuel by travelling fewer miles, the steady pace of interstate driving improves the fuel efficiency of trucks by 14 to 21 percent. Maine Department of Transportation engineers say they are confident that our interstate bridges are safe and can handle the added weight.
Many of Maine’s small-business owners have told me how this change would improve their competitiveness. For example, the owner-operator of a logging business in Penobscot County said that being able to transport his pulpwood to the mill on I-95 rather than secondary roads would save his company at least 118 gallons of fuel each week. That benefits not only this small business, but also our nation as we seek to reduce our overall fuel consumption and reduce emissions.
The pilot program made a dramatic improvement in some of our communities. According to the MDOT, before the pilot project began last December, more than 200 heavy trucks heading north on Route 201 crawled through downtown Vassalboro each day, even though I-95 runs parallel just a few miles away. During the span of the pilot program, the number of northbound trucks on Route 201 decreased by roughly 90 percent.
Road congestion can lead to tragedy. A study conducted by a nationally recognized traffic consulting firm found that the crash rate of semi-trailer trucks on Maine’s secondary roads was seven to 10 times higher than on the Turnpike, and estimated that allowing these trucks to stay on the interstates could result in three fewer fatal crashes per year. Public-safety agencies in Maine, including the Maine State Police, have long supported my efforts to bring about this change.
In 2010, people throughout Maine saw our roads less congested, our streets safer, our air cleaner, and our businesses more competitive. I am committed to ensuring that these improvements continue and are made permanent.
