Proposal asks state to lower speed limit for trucks to 55 mph and expand its existing truck route restrictions to include 96-inch-wide tractor-trailers.
By John Tredrea
The Township Committee has endorsed a transportation watchdog group’s report urging the state to lower the speed limit for trucks to 55 mph and expand the state’s existing truck route restrictions to include the more common 96-inch-wide tractor-trailers
Other key recommendations contained in the Tri-State Transportation Campaign’s truck safety report include giving local and county police the power to enforce truck route restrictions and to perform truck safety inspections.
Currently, only the State Police can do roadside inspections and enforce the ban on 102-inch wide trucks making interstate deliveries from traveling on certain state roads. The report urges the state Department of Transportation to include 96-inch-wide trucks as well, unless these trucks are making local deliveries or pickups.
Township Committeeman Jon Edwards and Joseph Kowalski, chairman of the Hopewell Valley Mayors’ Task Force on Traffic and Trucking, both support the Tri-State Transportation Campaign. Copies of the report were distributed at the Jan. 16 Township Committee meeting.
The Tri-State Transportation Campaign is an alliance of dozens of public interest, transit advocacy, planning and environmental organizations in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut metropolitan region.
"Higher speeds are especially dangerous when large trucks are involved," said the report. "Large trucks require much longer distances than cars to stop." The report adds: "Because of their size and girth, trucks also cause many multiple-vehicle crashes."
The report states that roadside inspections of trucks should be increased and that truck weigh stations in New Jersey should be kept open for longer hours.
"Install more weigh stations in areas that have disproportionate truck traffic," the tri-state report recommends to the DOT. "Combine the weigh stations with rest stops and convenient services (food, directions, etc.) that encourage alert trucking."
Stricter controls are needed on what routes may be used by truckers who are making only one delivery in New Jersey, the report says. It adds that fiscal and other incentives should be given to truck drivers and fleet owners with good safety records.
The increased use of safety devices like reflectors along roadways’ dotted lines and rumble strips along road edges also are recommended in the report.
The report also recommends expansion of the freight rail network in the tri-state area, in order to divert some freight from trucks.
The report, which was endorsed by the Township Committee on Jan. 16, is supported by the mayors of Montgomery, Princeton Borough and Elizabeth. Other central New Jersey communities are due to consider endorsing the report soon.
At the Jan. 16 meeting, Arlene Kemp, who became a township committeewoman early this month, thanked Mr. Edwards for his work during the past five years on controlling heavy truck traffic on roads such as Route 31.
"Jon, I applaud your efforts," Ms. Kemp said. "I live on Route 31 and I would like to thank you on behalf of the residents of Route 31."

