Public comment is solicited on proposed administrative rules governing 129,000-pound truck routes on the state highway system, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) announced.
The rules are necessary to implement three bills from the 2013 Legislature.
The legislation follows a pilot project that began in 1998 and recently ended. The project allowed trucks and their cargo weighing a total of 129,000 pounds to use 35 test routes in Idaho.
Senate Bill 1064 made the test routes permanent on July 1 this year.
Senate Bill 1117 allows additional routes to be designated by the Idaho Transportation Department and by local highway agencies. House Bill 322 clarifies the intent of the legislation.
Comment will be taken until Thursday, October 24, at 5 pm on four administrative rules related to 129,000-pound trucks. Among the rules is Administrative Rule 39.03.22-1302, which implements the provisions of SB1117 and outlines the process for considering additional routes for vehicles weighing up to 129,000 pounds.
Administrative rules ensure a state agency’s procedures are consistent with legislation.
The administrative rules are used to implement changes to statutes and govern areas such as the type of permit required.
Public meetings on ITD’s proposed rules are being held at:
* The Red Lion Hotel, 1555 Pocatello Creek Road, Pocatello, on Monday, October 7, 4 to 7 pm
* The Shilo Inn Suites, 780 Lindsay Boulevard, Idaho Falls, on Monday, October 7, 4 to 7 pm
* The Best Western Plus Coeur d’Alene Inn, 506 West Appleway Avenue, Coeur d’Alene, on Wednesday, October 9, 4 to 7 pm
* The Red Lion Hotel, 621 21st Street, Lewiston, on Wednesday, October 9, 4 to 7 pm
* The Best Western Plus Twin Falls Hotel, 1377 Blue Lakes Boulevard, Twin Falls, on Wednesday, October 16, 4 to 7 pm
* The Red Lion Hotel, 1800 Fairview Avenue, Boise, on Thursday, October 17, 4 to 7 pm
Transportation department staff will be available to answer questions, and will give brief informational presentations at 4, 5, and 6 pm. Verbal or written testimony can be given at any time between 4 and 7 pm.
Comments or questions on the rules also can be e-mailed to comments@itd.idaho.gov or mailed to: Adam Rush, Idaho Transportation Department, Office of Communications, P.O. Box 7129, Boise, ID 83707-1129.
Additional information is available at the ITD website.
(By Adam Rush, public involvement coordinator, Idaho Transportation Department)
Wild Idaho Rising Tide 
As you consider the 129,000-pound truck legislation, please closely consider the part of the law addressing safety along the route. The fact that megaloads completely block passage on many of the routes is a safety concern. Although the population in these areas is sparse, it is dependent on these routes for emergency response to many situations – fires, heart attacks, vehicle accidents, and floods come to mind. In those cases, a 15- to 59-minute traffic delay, such as the one that occurred on February 4, 2001, at a sharp curve on U.S. Highway 12, are life-threatening.
Are there alternate access routes? What alternatives do emergency and rescue operations have if the route is blocked by a megaload? Are there adequate safety and emergency resources in case a load tipped over on one of the narrow, winding routes? Where is the capacity to aid the driver(s), salvage the load, and open the road? What is the impact of a load in the waters? And do the local communities foot the bill for expanded safety equipment and personnel, or will ConocoPhillips, Omega Morgan, Athabasca Oil Company, or the General Electric subsidiary pay for increased infrastructure and emergency response units?
Thank you,
Joana Kirchhoff
16626 Bridger Canyon Road
Bozeman, Montana 59715
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