Chapter 580. Guidelines for Considering Requests for Restricting Through Trucks on Primary and Secondary Highways
24VAC30-580-10. Purpose.
It is the philosophy of the Commonwealth Transportation Board that all vehicles should have access to the roads on which they are legally entitled to travel. Travel by any class of vehicle on any class of highway should be restricted only upon demonstration that the restriction will promote the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the Commonwealth without creating an undue hardship on any of the users of the transportation system. The board recognizes that there may be a limited number of instances when restricting through trucks from using a segment of a primary or secondary roadway will reduce potential conflicts, creating a safer environment and one that is in accord with the current use of the roadway. The board has adopted these guidelines to govern and regulate requests for through truck restrictions on primary and secondary highways.
Statutory Authority
§ 33.2-210 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 20, Issue 5, eff. October 28, 2003.
24VAC30-580-20. Authority to restrict truck traffic on primary and secondary highways.
The Commonwealth Transportation Board delegates the authority to restrict through truck traffic on secondary highways to the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Transportation. Such restrictions can apply to any truck, truck and trailer or semitrailer combination, or any combination of those classifications. Consideration of all such restrictions by the commissioner is subject to this chapter as adopted by the board. Any request for such restrictions that fails to objectively satisfy the required criteria found in 24VAC30-580-40 may be rejected by the Virginia Department of Transportation District Administrator or District Engineer for the Construction District in which the restriction is requested prior to presentation to the commissioner. The board shall retain authority to restrict through truck traffic on primary highways.
Statutory Authority
§ 46.2-809 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 20, Issue 5, eff. October 28, 2003; amended, Virginia Register Volume 36, Issue 11, eff. February 20, 2020.
24VAC30-580-30. Local governing body process for requesting truck traffic restrictions.
In order to conform to the requirements of § 46.2-809 of the Code of Virginia, and to ensure that all concerned parties have an opportunity to provide input, the local governing body must hold a public hearing and make a formal request of the department. The following must be adhered to:
1. The public notices for the hearing must include a description of the proposed through truck restriction and the alternate route with the same termini. A copy of the notices must be provided.
2. A public hearing must be held by the local governing body and a transcript of the hearing must be provided with the resolution.
3. The resolution must describe the proposed through truck restriction and a description of the alternate, including termini.
4. The governing body must include in the resolution that it will use its good offices for enforcement of the proposed restriction by the appropriate local law-enforcement agency.
Failure to comply with the requirements of this section will result in the request being returned. The commissioner shall act upon any such formal request within nine months of its receipt, unless good cause is shown.
Statutory Authority
§ 33.2-210 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 20, Issue 5, eff. October 28, 2003.
24VAC30-580-40. Criteria for reviewing requested through truck restrictions.
Travel by any class of vehicle should be restricted only upon demonstration that the restriction will promote the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the Commonwealth without creating an undue hardship on any users of the transportation network. The Virginia Department of Transportation will consider the criteria in subdivisions 1 through 4 of this section in reviewing a requested through truck restriction. The proposed restriction must meet both the first and second criteria in order to be approved:
1. Reasonable alternate routing is provided. The alternate route will be evaluated for traffic and safety related impacts. To be considered "reasonable," the alternate route or routes must be engineered to a standard sufficient for truck travel, and must be judged at least as appropriate for truck traffic as the requested truck restriction route. If an alternate route must be upgraded, the improvement shall be completed before the truck restriction can be implemented. The termini of the proposed restriction must be identical to the alternate routing to allow a time and distance comparison to be conducted between the two routings. Also, the alternate routing must not create an undue hardship for trucks in reaching their destination.
2. The character or frequency, or both, of the truck traffic on the route proposed for restriction is not compatible with the affected area. Evaluation will include safety issues, accident history, engineering of the roadway, vehicle composition, and other traffic engineering related issues.
In addition to meeting the first two criteria listed above, the proposed restriction must meet either the third or the fourth criteria listed below in order to be approved.
3. The roadway is residential in nature. Typically, the roadway will be judged to be residential if there are at least 12 dwellings combined on both sides within 150 feet of the existing or proposed roadway center line per 1,000 feet of roadway.
4. The roadway must be functionally classified as either a local or collector.
Failure to satisfy criteria in subdivisions 1 and 2, and either criteria in subdivision 3 or 4 will normally result in rejection of the requested restriction.
The Commonwealth Transportation Board, from time to time as appropriate and when deemed necessary, may modify or revise any provisions or criteria contained in these guidelines.
Statutory Authority
§ 33.2-210 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 20, Issue 5, eff. October 28, 2003.