BISMARCK, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The following is a report from District 24 State Senator Larry Robinson.
“A recent meeting of the Interim Legislative Agriculture and Transportation Committee has approved advancing a proposal to allow Road Trains on our highways here in North Dakota. The proposal would allow trucks weighing 360,000 pounds and as long as 200 feet could become a reality in North Dakota should the 2021 legislature approve the proposal. The hearing on the issue was held on October 8th.
Advocates of the legislation suggest the Road Train proposal will increase efficiencies in transporting farm commodities. They have reported that the proposal has been piloted in other countries. Opponents stress that the trains will result in increased danger to our roadways. The large trucks have been piloted in Australia.
The North Dakota State University Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute , at the request of the North Dakota Department of Transportation, studied the issue and the impacts of these large trucks on our roadways.
The study found the following: Increasing the weight limits to that extent could result in as much as $2.25 billion in statewide bridge replacement and $1.26 billion on county and local bridges. These figures do not account for the current bridge backlog to adequately support 80,000 pound trucks. The study found that the current bridge backlog to support 80,000 pounds is $163 million for state bridges and $449 million for county and local bridges. In addition, the study found a significant investment would have to be made to upgrade to accommodate the increased turning space necessary for the longer tractor trailers.
We have also been advised that 462 of the 4,329 bridges in North Dakota are rated in poor condition. Finally, concern has been voiced over the massive trucks going through our local communities. The U.S. Department of Transportation has found in its 2016 report to Congress, that heavier trucks had anywhere from 47 per cent to 400 percent higher crash rates in limited state testing. In North Dakota, in 2018, there were 632 large truck crashes. Unfortunately, 30 people lost their lives in those crashes, a 7% increase over the previous year.
A significant number of national organizations have voiced opposition to the proposal. Some of those organizations include the International Association of Police Chiefs; National Association of Counties; Association of American Railroads;; The United States Conference of Mayors; National Association of Townships and Towns; American Association of EMT’s; National Troopers Association, and many more.
Hearings for the Road Train Proposal will be scheduled once the 2021 Legislative session convenes. Needless to say, the proposal has attracted considerable attention. The Legislative Interim Committees are wrapping up their work and will be forwarding their recommendations to the full Legislative Council which will meet in November. The Legislative Council will determine whether or not the proposals advanced by the Interim Committees will be forwarded to the full legislative assembly.”
Until next time, you can reach me at lrobinson@nd.gov.