2010-27539 Reso - I
RESOLUTION NO. 2010 -27539
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING THE UNITED
STATES CONGRESS TO REJECT ANY WEIGHT AND LENGTH
INCREASES FOR COMMERCIAL TRUCKS AND TRAILERS ON
THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY SYSTEM.
WHEREAS, federal laws currently limit the weight of commercial trucks and trailers to
80,000 pounds on our nation's 40,000 mile interstate highway system; and
WHEREAS, currently the United States Congress is considering whether to allow
heavier, longer commercial trucks and trailers on the nation's highways; and
WHEREAS, heavier trucks cause more wear and tear on the nations dilapidated roads
and bridges, and create a greater safety hazard to other drivers who use the nation's roadways
to commute to work and for leisure travel; and
WHEREAS, heavier trucks on federal roadways in South Florida would have a particular
negative impact in the City of Miami Beach because a new underground tunnel is being built
connecting the Port of Miami and the McArthur Causeway, which is major roadway into the City
of Miami Beach from the mainland; and
WHEREAS, highway safety advocates, and many independent truckers support the
extension of the current weight and length limits on the entire national highway system, which
roads are deemed vital to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility; and
WHEREAS, due to the significant deleterious effects which would result from an
increase in the width and length limits to commercial trucks and trailers not only on the nation's
highways but on the federal roadways connecting the City of Miami Beach to the South Florida
mainland, the Mayor and the City Commission of the City of Miami Beach hereby oppose any
increase to the weight and length limits for commercial trucks and trailers and hereby urge the
United States Congress to reject any measures which would increase such limits, thereby
causing additional deterioration of local roadway infrastructure, as well as resulting in greater
safety hazards.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA that the United States Congress is
hereby urged to reject any measure to increase the weight and length limits of commercial
trucks and trailers on the nation's highway system.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 27/& day of October, 2010.
ATTEST: -
MA I HERRERA BOWER
PLIA M AYOR
NAL(APPROVED AS TO
ROBERT PARCHER, CITY CLERK FORM & LANGUAGE
CITY CLERK & FOR E CUTION
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t_1 MIAMI
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR AND COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO Jorge Gonzalez, City Manager
Jose Smith, City Attorney
FROM Deede Weithorn, Commissioner /h//4j
DATE: October 13, 2010
SUBJECT: Agenda item for October 27 Commission meeting
I would like to request a resolution supporting the current federal limits on the weight
and length of 18- wheeler trailers on highways, specifically in Tight of the port tunnel
currently being constructed.
Thank you
DW /aks
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'Big battle' mounts and the maximum length to 53 feet.
"It's a big battle," says Jackie Gillan vice president of
9 Y p
over bigger big rigs Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety and a
member of StopBiggerTrucks.org, a campaign
urging Congress to reject any weight and size
increases for commercial trucks. "These trucking
companies don't come close to paying their fair
Updated '"ir 0 :.; �= .,1 share for the damage they do. The American public
is going to pay with their lives and their wallets if
By Larry Copeland, USA TODAY this goes through."
., - ,. �,- �( Increasing the federal maximum weight would be a
z>k - ,• , , i , , boon to shippers and to the public, says Clayton
. Kv , ,� , ., , , 4::- Boyce, vice president of public affairs at the
�: tl 4.- ` American Trucking Associations, which represents
y : P :. trucking companies. "It does take a little more fuel,
_ , ,, ` ,,, ~- but when you factor in what it would take to pull
-.-4 44: that in separate Toads, it's more fuel- efficient."
� . 1. • .• ry a - , : -• .. `
,rte 4� ` `s
. rt .� r . ; , < a ' 4 - .4' Move to extend limits
t l I j A z 0,6 , :,:,
A measure supported by highway safety advocates,
' -,. '� ter; °� - f the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and
# r- 1.,..,:,.,...!:,4,...:-.J,'':: .. many independent truckers would extend weight
. l?,.,t;4,yt:; and length limits to the entire National Highway
System, a network of roads vital to the economy,
F eder ;l law limits the weight and length of 18- wheeler defense and mobility.
trailers on the . OC mile I interstate ,.f..
ys;.crr. That legislation, by Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D -N.J.,
and Rep. Jim McGovern, D- Mass., would also extend
a freeze on multiple - trailer trucks. These trucks,
known as longer combination vehicles, are currently
Debate is heating up over an issue likely to strike permitted in 26 states.
terror in the heart of any driver who has spied an
18- wheeler looming in the rearview mirror as he Many major trucking companies and manufacturers
scrambles into the slow lane: whether even bigger support a measure that would allow trucks with a
big -rigs should be allowed on the nation's
highways.
Federal law limits the weight and length of 18-
wheeler trailers on the USA's 47,000 -mile interstate r f • - : ;'i"
highway system. Supporters say bigger commercial •
trucks allow drivers to deliver more freight in fewer, ,
trips, thus cutting pollution and reducing s - — t , ` ` l P '' 7-1 •
congestion on crowded highways. Opponents say f .; } it ! :: _ . i . : "
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the larger trucks would cause more wear - and -tear , '" ...,... f `r , ,. _ i " ,y ;
on the USA's dilapidated roads and bridges and 4 -A t
create a greater safety hazard to other drivers. , `' '` }
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Those issues are at the center of a congressional '
battle over whether federal laws that govern truck
weights and lengths should allow heavier, longer ,-,
trucks, or whether the current limits should stand
and be extended to even more roads. Federal law �! a "'., ,,
limits the weight of 18- wheelers to 80,000 pounds ', ' t H * xerox v 4
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gross weight up to 97,000 pounds, provided
heavier trucks added a sixth axle with additional
brakes. Under that measure, introduced by Rep.
Mike Michaud, D- Maine, and Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-
Ohio, the heavier weights would require the
approval of a state legislature.
"The time is really right for us to look at bigger
trucks in an educated way," says Dan Middleton, a
specialist in trucks and vehicle detection at the
Texas Transportation Institute.
"Canada and Mexico already allow the larger trucks,"
Middleton said, "and this could help with
harmonization of sizes and weights (at the border)."
Weighty debate
Major shippers have sought for years to increase
the maximum weight allowed for trucks on federal
highways, which has been set at 80,000 pounds
since 1982. Some states allow much heavier loads;
Michigan, for instance, allows a maximum weight of
164,000 pounds.
Boyce questions whether the additional weight
would create more wear - and -tear on roads and
disputes the safety concerns related to larger trucks:
"There are no safety concerns at all. They are just as
safe as lighter trucks."
Gillen, the Owner - Operator Independent Drivers
Association and some truckers disagree.
"Eighty thousand is enough for anybody. If it gets
much bigger, it's going to create an unsafe
environment, and more deaths on the roads," says
truck driver Lewie Pugh, 35, of Freeport, Ohio. He
has driven for 14 years.
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http://www.usatoday.com/cleanprint/?1286986695549 10/13/2010
Hatfield, Liliam
From: Hatfield, Liliam
Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2010 9:52 AM
To: Congressman Mario Diaz Balart; Debbie Wasserman Schultz; Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Cc: Crowder, Kevin
Subject: Resolution 2010-27539 adopted by the Miami Beach City Commission
Attachments: 2010-27539 Reso.pdf
Honorable Members of the Congress:
Attached Please Find Resolution 2010 - 27539 Urging The United States Congress To Reject Any Weight And
Length Increases For Commercial Trucks And Trailers On The National Highway System.
Respectfully submitted,
BEACH
MIAMI
Liliam Hatfield,
Office Associate V
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
1700 Convention Center Drive , Miami Beach , FL 33139
Tel:
305 - 673 - 7411/ Fax: 305 - 673 - 7254 / www.miamibeachfl.gov
We are committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live, work and play in our vibrant, tropical, hi storic community.
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