Truck only lanes

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Fire away Spyder ;D

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-07-21-trucktraffic_N.htm?csp=34

States push for truck-only lanes
Updated 12m ago | Comments 6 | Recommend E-mail | Save | Print |


Enlarge By Al Behrman, AP

Travel on highways has doubled since 1980, but the highway system has only grown by 3%.




By James Hannah, Associated Press
DAYTON, Ohio — With truck traffic rising, at least nine states are considering proposals to separate big rigs from cars on interstate highways, hoping to reduce congestion, improve safety and increase commerce by moving goods faster.
The highways are heavily traveled and are being used increasingly to carry passengers and freight through big cities of the industrial Midwest and booming communities in the Sun Belt.

Ohio, Nevada and other states want to build or designate truck-only lanes on various stretches of interstate highways, though they're not yet sure how they would pay for them. Tolls are one option; public-private partnerships another.

Georgia is considering truck-only lanes on a 27-mile stretch of Interstate 75 northwest of Atlanta and a 20-mile stretch of Interstate 285 that skirts the city. Truck congestion in the area is expected to increase by up to 60% in the next 20 years.

"This is such a through point for trucks. We've got to do something," said David Spear, spokesman for the Georgia Department of Transportation.

Proposals for truck-only lanes are cropping up because freight being carried by trucks is expected to skyrocket at a time when population and passenger traffic continue to increase.

Some truckers question the wisdom of truck-only lanes. And many oppose having to pay tolls for special lanes without being given the option of using non-toll routes.

Trucker Earl Sylvain, 71, of the Dayton suburb of Huber Heights, said that if trucks were required to stay in one lane, slower trucks with heavier loads would hold the others up.

"You still would have the same congestion," he said. "You've got just as many trucks out here."

Dan Middleton, program manager with the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M who is conducting a study on truck lanes, said they are a good idea for improving traffic flow, but truckers would want two lanes or some way to pass slower trucks.

David Schrank, a mobility research scientist with the institute, said one problem is figuring out how to get trucks smoothly back into general traffic once the truck-only corridor ends.

Travel on the nation's highways has nearly doubled since 1980, but the highway system has expanded by about 3%. There are 2.9 million large trucks traveling the nation's highways, up from 2.6 million in 2000 and that figure is expected to increase by 75,000 each year, according to the American Trucking Associations.

Nevada is pushing for truck-only lanes in areas along Interstate 80 and Interstate 15, which carry cargo east through Nevada from the ports of Oakland and Los Angeles, respectively.

Dennis Taylor, chief of program development for the Nevada Department of Transportation, said truck-only lanes would be especially effective in improving traffic flow because of steep grades that cause trucks to constantly slow down and speed up.

Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Missouri are suggesting a truck-only lane on a 789-mile stretch of Interstate 70.

The I-70 corridor rolls through or by Kansas City, St. Louis, Indianapolis and Columbus and is within 25 miles of six major international airports and air-cargo hubs. The highway teems with trucks because of the high concentration of manufacturing, retail and other industries nearby. Much of the I-70 corridor is expected to reach or exceed capacity by 2030.

A proposal to improve Interstate 10, a 2,650-mile highway that runs from Florida to California crossing eight states, identifies several areas that could become truck-only bypass highways. They include Phoenix and Houston.

The three proposals are among 14 semifinalists under review by the U.S Department of Transportation, which will select five this summer to ease highway congestion. The agency will speed up the permitting process and help states find ways to finance the projects.

A congressional commission also is reviewing the idea of truck-only lanes and truck-only highways.

"Our freight-rail system and interstate national highway system is basically saturated," said Jack Schenendorf, vice chairman of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Commission. "In some really high-traffic corridors, it may make sense to try to separate freight and passengers."

Financing is a sticking point.

Trucking pays 43% of the annual $35 billion in user fees for federal highways, according to the trucking associations. Truckers also pay a federal diesel fuel tax of 24.4 cents a gallon, a 12% excise tax on new trucks, an annual vehicle-use tax and a tax on tires.

Some motorists say truck-only lanes are a good idea for safety reasons alone.

In 2005, 442,000 large trucks were involved in crashes — 309,000 of them with other vehicles and 4,932 of them fatal, the most since 2000. However, the number of people killed in large-truck crashes is expected to be down 3.7% in 2006, according to projections by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Karen Kuhn, 60, of Fairfield, said it is sometimes difficult to maneuver on interstate highways because there are so many trucks.

"It can get a little tense when you're hemmed in on three sides by these truckers," she said. "I'm trying to get into the fast lane, and they're trying to get into the right lane, and it's a stalemate. A truck lane would improve flow."

[Stormontheplains]

Let the big dog's have there own lanes and get the job done. Great Idea, one thing I would ad, Bull Haulers must take dirt rodes and never be seen on a highway

[Northman]

I concur, give us truckers our own lane.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Ridicolous idea. We need be shipping more goods by rail anyway not truck. Much better for the environment and cheaper.

[Spider]

Ridicolous idea. We need be shipping more goods by rail anyway not truck. Much better for the environment and cheaper.

Wrong ......... do you even know how large the rail yards would have to be ?

[Spider]

what about cold storage Slug ? transporting perishable items ?
oversized loads ?
time sensitive loads ?
you really think you can get a train loaded and rolling in under 4 hours ?

[Stormontheplains]

Ridicolous idea. We need be shipping more goods by rail anyway not truck. Much better for the environment and cheaper.

Meanwhile back here in the real world that would never happen. :hitself: and you call other people dumb, back at ya!

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Meanwhile back here in the real world that would never happen. :hitself: and you call other people dumb, back at ya!
Do a little research before you spout off. I'm talking about interstate transportation straight from the docks to all major cities. It's happening now and growing fast. One train can deliver hundreds of trucks loads. Trains can be solar powered and will be in the future. I already posted this info in earlier threads.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

what about cold storage Slug ? transporting perishable items ?
oversized loads ?
time sensitive loads ?
you really think you can get a train loaded and rolling in under 4 hours ?They can and do load an entire train at the docks (hundreds of truck loads) in less than a day.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The main disadvantage of rail freight is its lack of flexibility. For this reason, rail has lost much of the freight business to road competition. Many governments are now trying to encourage more freight onto trains, because of the environmental benefits that it would bring; rail transport is very energy efficient.

Recently there has been a surge in rail traffic due to the fact that many products are coming in from overseas. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freight_train) Many rail systems have turned to computerized scheduling for trains which has helped add more train traffic to the rails. Overall, most businesses ship their products by rail if they are shipping long distance because it is cheaper to ship in large quantities by rail than by truck. Freight railroads compete with trucks for long distance and products in bulk because the costs are much lower. This is because one engine with two engineers can pull more than a hundred freight cars, while trucks have one driver per trailer. Recently the trucking union has won less hours for more pay which has led to a huge competition with freight railroad companies.

There are many different types of freight train, which are used to carry many different kinds of freight, with many different types of wagons or cars (in the US). One of the most common types on modern railways are container trains, where containers can be lifted on and off the train by cranes and loaded off or onto trucks or ships.

This type of freight train has largely superseded the traditional "box car" type of freight train, for which the cargo had to be loaded or unloaded manually.

In some countries "piggy back" trains are used: trucks can drive straight onto the train and drive off again when the end destination is reached. A system like this is used on the Channel Tunnel between England and France. Piggy back trains are the fastest growing type of freight trains in the United States, where they are also known as 'trailer on flat car' or TOFC trains. There are also some intermodal vehicles, which have two sets of wheels, for use in a train, or as the trailer of a road vehicle.

There are also many other types of wagon, such as "low loader" wagons for transporting road vehicles. There are refrigerator wagons for transporting food. There are simple types of open-topped wagons for transporting minerals and bulk material such as coal and tankers for transporting liquids and gases. Today however most coal and aggregates are moved in hopper wagons that can be filled and discharged rapidly, to enable efficient handling of the materials.

[Spider]

They can and do load an entire train at the docks (hundreds of truck loads) in less than a day.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The main disadvantage of rail freight is its lack of flexibility. For this reason, rail has lost much of the freight business to road competition. Many governments are now trying to encourage more freight onto trains, because of the environmental benefits that it would bring; rail transport is very energy efficient.

Recently there has been a surge in rail traffic due to the fact that many products are coming in from overseas. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freight_train) Many rail systems have turned to computerized scheduling for trains which has helped add more train traffic to the rails. Overall, most businesses ship their products by rail if they are shipping long distance because it is cheaper to ship in large quantities by rail than by truck. Freight railroads compete with trucks for long distance and products in bulk because the costs are much lower. This is because one engine with two engineers can pull more than a hundred freight cars, while trucks have one driver per trailer. Recently the trucking union has won less hours for more pay which has led to a huge competition with freight railroad companies.

There are many different types of freight train, which are used to carry many different kinds of freight, with many different types of wagons or cars (in the US). One of the most common types on modern railways are container trains, where containers can be lifted on and off the train by cranes and loaded off or onto trucks or ships.

This type of freight train has largely superseded the traditional "box car" type of freight train, for which the cargo had to be loaded or unloaded manually.

In some countries "piggy back" trains are used: trucks can drive straight onto the train and drive off again when the end destination is reached. A system like this is used on the Channel Tunnel between England and France. Piggy back trains are the fastest growing type of freight trains in the United States, where they are also known as 'trailer on flat car' or TOFC trains. There are also some intermodal vehicles, which have two sets of wheels, for use in a train, or as the trailer of a road vehicle.

There are also many other types of wagon, such as "low loader" wagons for transporting road vehicles. There are refrigerator wagons for transporting food. There are simple types of open-topped wagons for transporting minerals and bulk material such as coal and tankers for transporting liquids and gases. Today however most coal and aggregates are moved in hopper wagons that can be filled and discharged rapidly, to enable efficient handling of the materials.

LOL , sorry but that is fluff , you can encourage rail all you want but truck is still the best , as for better for the environment , not even close , most trucks have reduced emissions by 90%

[Spider]

and it takes me less then 4 hours to load , giving me an 8 hour headstart on the train easy

[Bronco_Beerslug]

and it takes me less then 4 hours to load , giving me an 8 hour headstart on the train easySpider, it takes you 4 hours to load ONE truck. They can load over a hundred in 8 hours off the docks on one train. :) Now tell me what pollutes more, 150 trucks or one train?

[Spider]

day Spider, it takes you 4 hours to load ONE truck. They can load over a hundred in 8 hours off the docks on one train. :) Now tell me what pollutes more, 150 trucks or one train?

Depends on how bad and how much of the product you need , you need 44 K pounds of meat , loading a train all day wont help much ........ tell me how long will meat last on a train waiting all day to load ?

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Depends on how bad and how much of the product you need , you need 44 K pounds of meat , loading a train all day wont help much ........ tell me how long will meat last on a train waiting all day to load ?Local trucking isn't in danger Spider. :) But it only makes sense to to rail in the offshore loads directly to the cities.

[Spider]

Local trucking isn't in danger Spider. :) But it only makes sense to to rail in the offshore loads directly to the cities.

thats just it , alot of Beef and produce comes to the east from the west and mid west , butcher shops , super markets , local stores , they can only handle so much per delivery

[W*GS]

Funny truck stuff:

http://www.snopes.com/photos/accident/railroad.asp

[Spider]

Funny truck stuff:

http://www.snopes.com/photos/accident/railroad.asp

LOL .....he must have thought he could climb that grade ......... even if the RR tracks were not there , he is still stuck .......but pretty good find

[epicSocialism4tw]

Give 'em two lanes.

It's time to get creative with the traffic problem.

I have always wondered if it would work to build "through" highways without exits (none in the major traffic areas) to bypass the major traffic spots. It would move through traffic around the cities...no traffic congestion.

[Spider]

Give 'em two lanes.

It's time to get creative with the traffic problem.

I have always wondered if it would work to build "through" highways without exits (none in the major traffic areas) to bypass the major traffic spots. It would move through traffic around the cities...no traffic congestion.

in America these are called toll roads ........

[Spider]

the problem with toll roads , you miss an exit , you are screwed , you just cant turn around , you pay for the next exit ( in some cases could be 5 miles or more ) then pay again to get back to your exit ..........
I used to run the Buckeye toll road alot , get off in Toledo and run highway 2 around or cross over into youngstown ohio and take 6 , depending on where i was going ....
Chicago runs alot of toll roads in the city ......seems to help alot Houston has a few toll roads as well ........

[epicSocialism4tw]

the problem with toll roads , you miss an exit , you are screwed , you just cant turn around , you pay for the next exit ( in some cases could be 5 miles or more ) then pay again to get back to your exit ..........
I used to run the Buckeye toll road alot , get off in Toledo and run highway 2 around or cross over into youngstown ohio and take 6 , depending on where i was going ....
Chicago runs alot of toll roads in the city ......seems to help alot Houston has a few toll roads as well ........


I'm not talking about a toll road...I'm talking about a highway built either parallel or above the existing highway. One that has a specific length (20-50 miles or so) without any exits at all. You get on to stay on and to bypass the congestion all together.

[Spider]

I'm not talking about a toll road...I'm talking about a highway built either parallel or above the existing highway. One that has a specific length (20-50 miles or so) without any exits at all. You get on to stay on and to bypass the congestion all together.

same principal ..... but a major problem I could see is Medical help , accidents , breakdowns ,etc....... while I like your Idea , you cant have that many miles with out access points ......

[Spider]

see C470 in Colorado is a bad set up ........ too many stops to toll booths , while it is a great cut off , it sucks cause of all the stopping ........

[epicSocialism4tw]

same principal ..... but a major problem I could see is Medical help , accidents , breakdowns ,etc....... while I like your Idea , you cant have that many miles with out access points ......

That's an easy fix...emergency access points.

[Spider]

That's an easy fix...emergency access points.

to what end ?

[atomicbloke]

Depends on how bad and how much of the product you need , you need 44 K pounds of meat , loading a train all day wont help much ........ tell me how long will meat last on a train waiting all day to load ?

If I ever hijacked your truck, I could be eating steaks for the rest of my life 8')

[Bronco_Beerslug]

This is the future Spider.

------------------------------------------------------------------
Each year, (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20060729/ai_n16645991) using data from the Texas Transportation Institute, I study the impact of increased freight traffic in our most congested urban areas and report on how redirecting some of this freight from trucks on the highway to freight trains could impact a typical commuter. In the Chicago area, by 2025, shifting 25 percent of freight from trucks to freight trains would decrease drivers' commutes by 42 hours. In addition, such a shift would save each commuter $809 in annual congestion costs.

Shifting freight from road to rail also has a positive environmental impact. Freight rail is more fuel efficient per ton- mile than trucks and reduces fuel consumption of other motorists by decreasing the time drivers spend idling in traffic. For example, by 2025, commuters in the Chicago area could save 66 gallons of fuel with a 25 percent shift of freight from truck to rail.

Air pollution levels also would improve with an increased use of freight rail. For instance, by 2025, shifting 25 percent of freight to rail would decrease air pollutant emissions in the Chicago area by as much as 96,790 tons.

Major road improvement efforts, like the $13 million Archer Avenue project designed to improve two separate segments of Archer Avenue to ease traffic congestion and increase safety for motorists and pedestrians, are clear signs that our highways and bridges cannot withstand the current and projected traffic volumes.

Construction and repairs are often expensive and politically contentious. However, freight rail can help stem the tide.
One freight train can carry the equivalent cargo of 500 trucks, and one intermodal train can carry nearly 300 truck trailers.

Trucking companies and railroads are already forming intermodal partnerships that combine the best abilities of both modes of transportation. In fact, intermodal is the fastest-growing segment of the rail industry.

------------------------------------------------------------------
Although this story is from Australia, this is the movement in many countries.

Greens plan for no B-Doubles in NSW, more freight on rail (http://nsw.greens.org.au/media-centre/news-releases/greens-plan-for-no-b-doubles-in-nsw-more-freight-on-rail)
23/01/2007

Greens MP and transport spokesperson, Lee Rhiannon met with North Coast Greens candidates in Grafton today to launch the Greens plan to shift freight transport back to rail and away from heavy trucks on our roads. The Greens policy would phase out B-Doubles and other heavy freight trucks from the Pacific Highway.

"The Greens are committed to banning B-Doubles from all NSW roads. We are working to phase out heavy freight trucks on the Pacific Highway by 2011. This is achievable if we expand rural freight lines", said Ms Rhiannon.

"Our communities are suffering because there are so many B-Double trucks on our roads. Putting more freight on rail would reduce the number of accidents and the amount of carbon emissions.

"At present about 350 B-Double trucks use the Pacific Highway each day and the Bureau of Transport & Regional Economics predicts that domestic freight movements will increase by 80% between 2000 - ­ 2020.

"Communities along the Pacific Highway cannot sustain an extra 50,000 trucks on Australian roads by 2020, given that one road fatality in three involves an articulated truck.

"The Pacific Highway still needs an upgrade in many parts but these upgrades should not be used as an excuse to keep moving freight by truck.

"Big freight trucks put motorists and local residents under terrible stress, increase air pollution and cause many accidents on the North Coast.

"We need to boost our use of rural rail lines and coastal shipping to transport freight. Rail services need to be upgraded and maintained.

[Spider]

blowing this piece off , Texas is a railroad commissioned state , they have some ****ed up laws regarding trucks

[Bronco_Beerslug]

blowing this piece off , Texas is a railroad commissioned state , they have some ****ed up laws regarding trucksWatch the Discovery Channel special on superfreighters offloading at our ports if you can sometime. The cranes grab the containers right off the ship and put them on the trains waiting to go. They can offload an entire freighter in one day.

[Spider]

Watch the Discovery Channel special on superfreighters offloading at our ports if you can sometime. The cranes grab the containers right off the ship and put them on the trains waiting to go. They can offload an entire freighter in one day.
I am sure they can , I have loaded at a few ports , but that doesnt cover what we are talking about , how does off loading a super freighter in 1 day help get 44 thousand pounds of meat to Debagla and Splitter off of 14 th and Broadway in Manhattan New York ?
or move an oil Rig from Sandy Draw Wyoming to the Bonanza in Utah ?
Iam not saying Rail doesnt have a use , it does , the amount of freight they can transport is amazing , but Rail is restricted and not flexible , nor is it practical ....

[Bronco_Beerslug]

I am sure they can , I have loaded at a few ports , but that doesnt cover what we are talking about , how does off loading a super freighter in 1 day help get 44 thousand pounds of meat to Debagla and Splitter off of 14 th and Broadway in Manhattan New York ?
or move an oil Rig from Sandy Draw Wyoming to the Bonanza in Utah ?
Iam not saying Rail doesnt have a use , it does , the amount of freight they can transport is amazing , but Rail is restricted and not flexible , nor is it practical ....I already said local handling is safe :) Rail needs to be expanded though and it is. Warren Buffett just bought two railroads this year, he knows what's coming. It's cheaper, cleaner and many times more efficient than trucking.

[Northman]

The problem isnt the IDEA of using more Railroads. The problem is the reality of it. I sometimes deliver to Wash. D.C and 95/495 is always a bear to drive in. It adds a extra hour there and back to work down there. But, there is no room to add a railroad system there especially downtown. Funny thing is, when the goverment is shutdown for the day the travel time is perfect with less traffic. So maybe we should just do away with goverment and that will solve the traffic issues. lol Bottom line, getting into the downtown cities is where the most traffic is and it is unrealistic to believe we can incorporate railroad systems to levy traffic issues in those specific areas.

[alkemical]

I"m on the utilizing rail. Trucking will still be in demand, even long distance trucking.

Hubbing out the truck traffic to more 'regions' is going to be needed IMO to help cut/curtail the fuel usage problem.

I think we need to update the rail infrastructure to speed rail up, and improve not only passenger usage, but freight usage as well.

I won't deny the fact that i like trains, and i think that new applications could really help us get out of some jams.