Analyzing Changes to Truck Size and Weight Regulations Methods for States

1. Analyzing Changes to Truck Size and Weight RegulationsMethods for States presented toAASHTO Subcommittee on Highway Transport presented byDonald Ludlow, Cambridge Systematics June 28, 2011

2. How to analyze TSW proposals • Weaknesses of past studies: TRB Special Report 267 • The methods used in past studies have not produced satisfactory estimates of the effect of changes in truck weights on bridge costs. • It is not possible to predict the outcomes of regulatory changes with high confidence. • It is essential to examine the safety consequences of size and weight regulation. Research and Monitoring needed to understand the relationship of truck characteristics and truck regulations to safety and other highway costs are not being conducted today.

3. How to analyze TSW proposals: AASHTO Evaluation Criteria • Safety—Will the proposal improve safety on the interstate? • Economic Benefit—Will the proposal produce a positive economic outcome? • Infrastructure preservation, renewal, and capacity—Will the proposal adversely affect the condition and/or the performance of highway infrastructure? • Congestion reduction—Will the proposal reduce highway congestion? • Modal diversion—Will the proposal cause a shift of traffic to highway from rail or waterways that will have adverse impacts on infrastructure, safety or the environment? • Financing assurance—Will the proposal provide guaranteed funding to equal the costs of necessary infrastructure improvements and increased enforcement?

4. VMT Shift* *Method applies to “pioneering” states In the future, we may have REAL observations from which we can derive more accurate factors • VMT Pre-test / Post-test • How many trucks before the change? • How many trucks after the change? • VMT shift by type of truck • FHWA Classifications • State-specific configurations • Develop controlling assumptions • Shipper / carrier outreach • Commodity / economic analysis • VMT shift by functional classification • Shift from local to Interstate • Develop controlling assumptions • Shipper / carrier outreach • Tools / Data • Vehicle Travel Information System (VTRIS) • Vehicle classification counts (state) • WIM

5. How to analyze TSW proposals: AASHTO Evaluation Criteria • Safety—Will the proposal improve safety on the interstate? • Economic Benefit—Will the proposal produce a positive economic outcome? • Infrastructure preservation, renewal, and capacity—Will the proposal adversely affect the condition and/or the performance of highway infrastructure? • Congestion reduction—Will the proposal reduce highway congestion? • Modal diversion—Will the proposal cause a shift of traffic to highway from rail or waterways that will have adverse impacts on infrastructure, safety or the environment? • Financing assurance—Will the proposal provide guaranteed funding to equal the costs of necessary infrastructure improvements and increased enforcement?

6. How to analyze TSW proposals: Safety • Are the heavier trucks safe to operate? • Driver training • Equipment certification • Vehicle dynamics • What is the accident rate by truck? • By functional classification • From research • From observation • Apply shifts in VMT by truck configuration against crash rates

7. How to analyze TSW proposals: Infrastructure preservation, renewal, capacity • Bridges • Test bridges for strength – will the bridges accommodate the heavier trucks? • Test bridges for fatigue – how will the trucks affect bridge life (structure and deck) • How do results affect life cycle costs? • Pavements • Test pavements for fatigue (e.g. DARWIN ME) • How do results affect life cycle costs? • Capacity / Congestion • Analyze VMT shift using state travel demand models • Use HERS-ST (passenger car equivalents) for urban areas if there is no model available

8. How to analyze TSW proposals: Modal Diversion • Rail-to-truck diversion • Will loads shift from rail to truck? • Which commodities are vulnerable? • What other factors influence the shift? • Conduct outreach • Shipper interviews • Railroad outreach • Conduct data analysis • Develop controlling assumptions • Commodities • Distances • Origin-destination pairs • Ton-mile costs • Estimate candidate loads

9. How to analyze TSW proposals: Financing Assurance Will the proposal provide guaranteed funding to equal the costs of necessary infrastructure improvements and increased enforcement? • Estimate costs (or savings) of infrastructure improvements • Estimate costs of increased enforcement • Estimate costs of increased permit administration • Estimate increased permit revenue • Other costs / savings

10. How to analyze TSW proposals • Route Selection—Routes suitable for increased size and/or weight on the interstate will be determined by the state based on the evaluation criteria above and the conditions below. • Infrastructure Assessment—No interstate route (including access) will be approved for increased size and weight before an assessment determines that it can be done without serious adverse impacts on highway infrastructure (including access) or before necessary improvements are made. • Cost Estimate—A cost estimate must be carried out to determine the total cost and timing of investments made necessary by the change in truck size and weight. • Safety Requirements—Vehicles operating under the increased size and weight limits will be required to be of the highest available quality, including all of the standard safety technology; drivers will be required to have outstanding safety records; and the companies will be required to have strong safety histories. • Monitoring and reporting—A rigorous monitoring system must be established to produce regular reports to determine whether the outcome of the change in federal truck size and weight limits on the interstate are consistent with the evaluation criteria.

11. How to analyze TSW proposals (con’t) • Monitoring and reporting—A rigorous monitoring system must be established to produce regular reports to determine whether the outcome of the change in federal truck size and weight limits on the interstate are consistent with the evaluation criteria. • Infrastructure funding—A mechanism must be in place that will guarantee that the cost of any improvements determined to be necessary by the Infrastructure Assessment will be met by revenues from the benefiting carriers and shippers. • Implementation funding—The federal government must provide the funds necessary for enforcement, monitoring and administration necessary for the state DOTs to implement the changes in truck size and weight on the Interstate system.

12. Questions and DiscussionThank You!