Syracuse, New York (WSYR-TV) – Hundreds turned out at a public hearing at the State Fairgrounds Wednesday evening to discuss the state Department of Transportation's proposal to keep large trucks from traveling through local towns and villages.
It's been a hot topic in the Finger Lakes for years and in May, Governor Paterson announced a draft statewide regulation to address the problem.
Truckers have used roads such as Route 20 in the Skaneateles area as short cuts to save on gas and Thruway tolls, and avoid weigh stations.
People living in areas with the truck traffic have complained about garbage being spilled from trucks, and the fumes and noise that they produce.
The proposal calls for trucks with trailers 45 feet or longer to remain on the interstates and use DOT designated highways only when traveling the interstate isn't reasonable.
”These roads were never intended to handle these 18-wheel garbage trucks,” says Ron Smith of Ithaca, who attended Wednesday’s meeting.
Large trucks would be allowed on secondary state highways only when necessary for local pick-ups or deliveries.
Barbara Clary lives along State Route 38A in Owasco. She says it's not the local trucking companies that are the problem -- but the garbage haulers that come in from out of town, carrying trash to the Seneca Meadows Landfill.
The Motor Truck Association is sympathetic to those quality of life concerns, but the association doesn't feel a statewide regulation affecting all large trucks is the best solution -- and they wonder who will determine whether a truck is a making a local delivery or hauling waste from out of town.
“Is this a through truck? Is this a local delivery truck? Well we are going to pull him over and see. Well, where are you going to pull him over? Where are you going to pull him over to see if he is legitimately on that route? Is it a DOT trained state trooper? Is he a Skaneateles police officer? There are a lot of issues here,” says Motor Truck Association spokesman Mike Chellis.
Chellis says being forced to use certain roads could add miles to their trip and with trucks that get five miles to the gallon, the added diesel costs won't be easy to swallow. He's hoping that garbage haulers can settle residents’ concerns without there being a statewide regulation.
If you couldn’t make it to Wednesday’s meeting, but would like to weigh in still, send an e-mail with your comments to TruckRegComment@dot.state.ny.us
