[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 37 (Friday, March 7, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E406]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 THE COMMERCIAL TRUCK HIGHWAY SAFETY DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM ACT OF 2003

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                        HON. MICHAEL H. MICHAUD

                                of maine

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 6, 2003

  Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, today, along with my good friend Tom Allen, 
I am introducing the Commercial Truck Highway Safety Demonstration 
Program Act of 2003. This bill would allow Maine to increase the weight 
limits for trucks on interstate highways, by granting a three-year 
waiver of federal rules. It mandates a study process that will help 
demonstrate the positive safety effects of these changes, and permit 
the waiver to be extended pending these safety determinations.
  This bill is important both for public safety and economic reasons. 
The administration of the current 80,000 pound federal weight limit law 
in Maine has forced heavy tractor-trailer and tractor-semitrailer 
combination vehicles, traveling into Maine from neighboring States and 
Canada, to divert onto small State and local roads where higher vehicle 
weight limits apply under Maine law.
  The diversion of those vehicles onto such roads causes significant 
economic hardships and safety challenges for small communities located 
along those roads. Permitting heavy commercial vehicles to travel on 
Interstate System highways in Maine would enhance public safety by 
reducing the number of heavy vehicles that use town and city streets, 
and as a result, the number of dangerous interactions between those 
heavy vehicles and other vehicles such as school buses and private 
cars.
  It would also reduce the net highway maintenance costs in Maine 
because the Interstate System highways, unlike the secondary roads of 
Maine, are built to accommodate heavy vehicles and are, therefore, more 
durable.
  Finally, this bill would ensure that Maine can remain competitive in 
the transportation and manufacturing sectors, and that our neighbors do 
not pass us by in development. This change is fair, and will promote 
parity in transportation throughout New England.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill, which will enhance safety, 
lower maintenance costs, and promote economic development.

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