Notice of Hearing
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to ss.
85.16 (1) and
348.07 (4), Stats., interpreting s.
348.07 (4), Stats., the Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing at the following location to consider the amendment of chapter Trans 276, Wisconsin Administrative Code, relating to allowing the operation of double bottoms and certain other vehicles on certain specified highways.
Hearing Date, Time and Location
December 1, 2003
Hill Farms State Transportation Building
4802 Sheboygan Avenue
Room 501 (Eau Claire Conference Room)
10:00 AM
(Parking is available for persons with disabilities)
The public record on this proposed rule making will be held open until close of business on the date of the hearing to permit the submission of written comments from persons unable to attend the public hearing or who wish to supplement testimony offered at the hearing. Any such written comments should be submitted to Ashwani K. Sharma, Traffic Operations Engineer, Bureau of Highway Operations, Room 501, P. O. Box 7986, Madison, Wisconsin, 53707-7986.
Analysis Prepared by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
General Summary of Proposed Rule. This proposed rule amends Trans 276.07 (6), (8), (16) and (17), and creates s.
Trans 276.07 (34o) and
(35g), Wisconsin Administrative Code, to add seven segments of highway to the designated highway system established under s.
348.07 (4), Stats. The actual highway segments that this proposed rule adds to the designated highway system are:
Hwy. From To
STH 25 USH 8 STH 48
STH 35 USH 63 at Hager City USH 10 in Prescott
CTH “E" STH 35 USH 10
STH 78 Argyle Mt. Horeb
STH 81 STH 78 in Argyle CTH “N" W. of STH 78
CTH “N" STH 81 W. of Argyle CTH “F"
CTH “F" CTH “N" STH 78 in Blanchardville
The long trucks to which this proposed rule applies are those with 53-foot semitrailers, double bottoms and the vehicles which may legally operate on the federal National Network, but which exceed Wisconsin's regular limits on overall length. Generally, no person may operate any of the following vehicles on Wisconsin's highways without a permit: A single vehicle with an overall length in excess of 40 feet , a combination of vehicles with an overall length in excess of 65 feet, a semitrailer longer than 48 feet, an automobile haulaway longer than 66 feet plus allowed overhangs, or a double bottom. Certain exceptions are provided under s.
348.07(2), Stats., which implements provisions of the federal Surface Transportation Assistance Act in Wisconsin.
The effect of this proposed rule will be to extend the provisions of s.
348.07 (2) (f),
(fm),
(gm) and
(gr), and s.
348.08 (1) (e), Stats., to the highway segments listed above. As a result, vehicles which may legally operate on the federal National Network in Wisconsin will also be allowed to operate on the newly-designated highways. Specifically, this means there will be no overall length limitation for a tractor-semitrailer combination, a double bottom or an automobile haulaway on the affected highway segments. There also will be no length limitation for a truck tractor or road tractor when operated in a tractor-semitrailer combination or as part of a double bottom or an automobile haulaway. Double bottoms will be allowed to operate on the affected highway segments provided neither trailer is longer than 28 feet, 6 inches. Semitrailers up to 53 feet long may also be operated on these highway segments provided the kingpin to rear axle distance does not exceed 43 feet. This distance is measured from the kingpin to the center of the rear axle or, if the semitrailer has a tandem axle, to a point midway between the first and last axles of the tandem. Otherwise, semitrailers, including semitrailers which are part of an automobile haulaway, are limited to 48 feet in length.
These vehicles and combinations are also allowed to operate on undesignated highways for a distance of 5 miles or less from the designated highway in order to reach fuel, food, maintenance, repair, rest, staging, terminal or vehicle assembly or points of loading or unloading.
Fiscal Estimate
The Department estimates that there will be no fiscal impact on the liabilities or revenues of any county, city, village, town, school district, technical college district or sewerage district.
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
The provisions of this proposed rule adding highway segments to the designated system have no direct adverse effect on small businesses, and may have a favorable effect on those small businesses which are shippers or carriers using the newly-designated routes.
Copies of Rule and Contact Person
Copies of this proposed rule are available without cost upon request to the office of the State Traffic Engineer, P. O. Box 7986, Room 501, Madison, Wisconsin, 53707-7986, telephone (608) 266-1273. For questions about this rule making, please call Ashwani Sharma, Traffic Operations Engineer at (608) 266-1273. Alternate formats of the proposed rule will be provided to individuals at their request.
Notice of Hearing
Notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs will hold a public hearing on the 5th day of December, 2003, at 9:30 a.m., in the 8th floor board room at 30 West Mifflin Street in Madison, Wisconsin.
Analysis Prepared by the Department of Veterans Affairs
Statute interpreted: ss.
45.19, Stats.
The creation of chapter VA 17 will enable the Wisconsin department of veterans affairs to address several issues relating to the military funeral honors program. The rule will associate the amount of the stipend payment to the level of honors performed. It will also require certification of the honors team and federal reimbursement, if available, as a condition of receipt of a stipend. It will address the availability of a state honors team for burials in a state veterans cemetery. Finally, it will provide a mechanism for the provision of a special burial coin to family members.
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
This rule is not expected to have any adverse impact upon small businesses.
Fiscal Estimate
The implementation of the rule is not expected to have any fiscal impact. However, if the local units of state veterans organizations do not choose to provide full honors, it is possible that an annual savings of $3,000 may result
Copies of Rule and Contact Person
A copy of the proposed rules and the full fiscal estimate may be obtained by contacting:
John Rosinski
Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs
PO Box 7843
Madison, WI 53707-7843
(608) 266-7916
