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 ch.
Trans 276, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to allowing the operation of double bottoms and certain other vehicles on certain specified highways:
The public hearing will be held as follows:
January 18, 2002
Marathon County Highway Department
Office of Highway Commissioner
1430 West Street
Wausau, WI
11:00 a.m.
(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 (34m), and creates Trans 276.07 (38g), Wis. Adm. Code, to add five 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
CTH “A" STH 13 in Stetsonville Marathon Co Line
CTH “F" West County Line CTH “M"
CTH “M" CTH “F" STH 97 in Athens
CTH “A" STH 13 E. of Dorchester STH 97 S. of
Athens
Corlad Road CTH “A" CTH “M" W. of
Athens
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.
Contact Person
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.
