SJR45: Joint Resolution Text

LRB-2256/1

ARG:cjs:rs

2009 - 2010 LEGISLATURE

2009 Senate JOINT RESOLUTION 45

September 16, 2009 - Introduced by Senators Hansen, Cowles, Holperin, Plale, Taylor, Lassa, Darling and Kedzie, cosponsored by Representatives Zigmunt, Bernard Schaber, Soletski, Van Roy, Montgomery, Hintz, Turner, Vruwink, Spanbauer, Steinbrink, Fields, Strachota, Vos and Townsend. Referred to Committee on Transportation, Tourism, Forestry, and Natural Resources.

SJR45,1,4 Relating to: calling on the Wisconsin congressional delegation to take action to grandfather preexisting highway weight limits upon the designation of USH 41 as part of the Dwight D. Eisenhower system of interstate and defense highways.

SJR45,1,6 Whereas, commercial truck transportation is an essential component of economic activity in every part of this state; and

SJR45,1,10 Whereas, any opportunity to haul heavier loads by truck, consistent with the capacity of existing highways to carry those loads without unreasonable highway wear and damage, can add greatly to the efficiency of truck transportation, resulting in a substantial benefit to the state's economy as a whole; and

SJR45,1,15 Whereas, a recent study of highway weight limits in Minnesota shows that, under specified circumstances, weight limits can be increased with a net benefit to the economy, when considering both the costs of protecting the highway infrastructure and safety and the benefits that would result from reducing the cost of truck transportation; and

SJR45,2,7 Whereas, the state of Wisconsin is engaged in an ongoing effort to upgrade state numbered highways to interstate highway standards, and to convert state numbered highways to interstate highways, one result of which is that the weight limits for divisible loads of certain commodities on a newly designated interstate highway may be less than the weight limits on state numbered highways and local roads in the remainder of the state, thus forcing trucks off the interstates and onto state and local roads to capture the increased efficiency of heavier loads; and

SJR45,2,11 Whereas, the diversion of heavy truck traffic onto state and local roads causes a variety of problems, such as safety hazards caused by large trucks driving through small towns or the operation of overweight trucks on local roads that are not policed by law enforcement personnel adequately trained in truck weight enforcement; and

SJR45,2,15 Whereas, this problem occurs not just in Wisconsin but also nationwide, as shown by the many individual exemptions to interstate weight limits already adopted by Congress to grandfather preexisting weight limits on portions of state highways that have been converted to interstate highways; and

SJR45,2,18 Whereas, Congress enacted legislation, in 23 USC 127, grandfathering certain preexisting state highway weight limits on I 39 from Portage to Wausau after its designation as part of the interstate system under 23 USC 103; now, therefore, be it

SJR45,2,23 Resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring, That the legislature of the state of Wisconsin respectfully urges the Wisconsin congressional delegation to use all means at its disposal to create an exception under 23 USC 127 grandfathering preexisting state highway weight limits on USH 41 upon its designation under 23 USC 103 as part of the interstate system; and, be it further

SJR45,3,3 Resolved, That the senate chief clerk shall send copies of this joint resolution to the secretary of the U.S. department of transportation and to each member of the congressional delegation from this state.

SJR45,3,4 (End)