Office of the Governor
Whitman Proposes Truck Restrictions on Local Roads
Gov. Christie Whitman today announced that she is directing the Commissioner of Transportation to implement new large truck routing regulations. These emergency regulations will prohibit large interstate trucks from using local roadways as through routes or short cuts between National Network highways.
"Because of changes in federal law, interstate trucks have become longer and wider. Most of our rural and suburban roads were built long before the federal government mandated that states accept large trucks," the Governor said. "Large interstate trucks that are not doing business in New Jersey have no business using our local roads. This is a safety and quality of life issue, and the time to act has come."
"Furthermore, US Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater has said that New Jersey has the authority to restrict large interstate trucks to the National Network, and he has offered to assist New Jersey in implementing such restrictions. We look forward to full federal assistance and support in this comprehensive effort," said Gov. Whitman.
"This initiative will not affect interstate commerce," Commissioner James Weinstein said. "Large interstate trucks will still have access to the Interstate National Network of Truck Routes. Trucks doing business in New Jersey will also be able to readily access all New Jersey-based businesses. The crucial difference is that large interstate trucks not doing business in New Jersey will be prohibited from using local highways such as Routes 31, 206, 29, 518 and similar roads."
"I would like to thank NJDOT staff for their assistance in developing this important proposal. Making this ban work will also require the enactment of state legislation to set meaningful fines for violations of the new regulations," the Governor said. "I am therefore also directing the Commissioner of Transportation to work with the Legislature to develop and enact enforcement legislation that will impose fines with real teeth for trucks that violate these regulations."
"I want to have these interstate truck routing regulations and the new enforcement legislation in place, operative and enforced as soon as possible. This is an ambitious, but doable goal."
The Governor said that the emergency regulations will go into effect immediately upon filing.
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