 Truck Planning
Truck travel characteristics are monitored to enable the Regional Transportation Council to identify routes used for goods movement and to assist in the prioritization of recommended projects and infrastructure improvements. Inventorying and monitoring truck movements allows NCTCOG to consider the impact of proposed projects on goods movement so the effects may be considered during project selection. As data is collected and monitored, commodity flow forecasting models may be used to evaluate changes to the transportation system to enhance long-range planning.
Four significant truck transportation issues within the Dallas/Fort Worth region are:
- Inadequate highway infrastructure
- Growing congestion on the Interstate Highways
- Limited productivity gains (specifically the restriction of Long Combination Vehicles)
- Safety problems
Truck Lanes
Trucks travel more than 196 million miles on U.S. highways each year, carrying more than 1 trillion tons of freight. Truck traffic is projected to grow 2.6% annually. Each year more than 40,000 people die as a result of highway crashes, and 1 in 8 of those crashes involve commercial motor vehicles. Deregulation of the trucking industry, the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), reductions in rail service, growth in time-sensitive freight and a robust economy have greatly impacted the number of trucks on the nation’s roadways. Due to increased trade between Mexico and the United States, the number of trucks that crossed from Mexico into the United States grew from 2.7 million in 1994 to almost 4.5 million in 6 years, a 66% increase.
Truck traffic on Texas roadways has grown to the point that special treatments may be required to safely accommodate heavy vehicles.
The Truck Lane Planning initiative focuses on:
- Evaluation of needs for specialty truck facilities and services
- Identification of suitable tools for improving truck traffic flow in the region
- Identification of probable “truck only lane” corridors
- Development of demonstration pilot projects
Mobility 2035 Recommendations
Educational materials provided by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) aimed at educating professional drivers and motorist on how to share the road safely; Share the Road Safely Campaign
Topics
Truck Lane Restrictions
Staff
- Rebekah Karasko, AICP, Senior Transportation Planner (Lead)
- Kyler Erhard, Transportation Planner II
- Lisa Key, Administrative Assistant II
- Kevin Feldt, AICP, Program Manager
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