Idaho Efficient Vehicle Demonstration Act of 2009 - Prohibits any reduction of the apportionment of federal-aid highway funds to Idaho if: (1) it permits a commercial combination vehicle weighing up to 129,000 pounds to operate on specified routes of the Interstate System within the state; (2) such vehicle does not exceed state weight limits for operation on state highways; and (3) the vehicle is limited to travel only on certain portions of Interstate Routes 15, 84, and 86.
(Under current law, the federal-aid highway funds of a state shall be reduced if it permits a commercial combination vehicle with a weight in excess of federal weight limits to operate on Interstate System highways within the state.)
[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[H.R. 969 Introduced in House (IH)]
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 969
To permit commercial vehicles at weights up to 129,000 pounds to use
certain highways of the Interstate System in the State of Idaho, which
would provide significant savings in the transportation of goods
throughout the United States, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 10, 2009
Mr. Simpson (for himself and Mr. Minnick) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To permit commercial vehicles at weights up to 129,000 pounds to use
certain highways of the Interstate System in the State of Idaho, which
would provide significant savings in the transportation of goods
throughout the United States, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Idaho Efficient Vehicle
Demonstration Act of 2009''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) States including Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming
have been grandfathered the right to operate up to 129,000-
pound or greater vehicle combinations on 9 axles or more on
Federal highways;
(2) laws governing Federal highway funding effectively
impose a limit of 105,500 pounds on the weight of vehicles
permitted to use the Interstate System within the State of
Idaho;
(3) the State of Idaho is surrounded by the States
specified in paragraph (1) that allow higher weight limits on
the Interstate System, which puts the State of Idaho at a
disadvantage in moving freight within Idaho and into those
surrounding States;
(4) in 2003, the legislature of the State of Idaho adopted
House Bill 395, which established a 10-year pilot project that
allows vehicle combinations up to 129,000 pounds to be operated
on 10 axles on specific routes in that State, but does not
address the Interstate System;
(5) in enacting the pilot project program in House Bill 395
of the State, the legislature required the Idaho Transportation
Department to report to the legislature on the effect of the
program;
(6) the Idaho Transportation Department is required to
submit reports every 3 years during the 10-year life of the
pilot project program that describe the results of monitoring
and evaluation of all important impacts, including impacts to
safety, bridges, and pavement, on all pilot project routes;
(7) the pilot project program terminates on July 1, 2013,
unless the program is otherwise extended or sooner repealed by
the legislature;
(8) the administration of the pilot project, coupled with
the fact that vehicle combinations cannot operate at 129,000
pounds on the Interstate System, has forced those heavier
vehicle combinations to divert onto small State and local roads
on which higher vehicle weight limits are allowed under State
law;
(9) the diversion of those vehicles onto those roads
increases fuel costs because of increased idling time and total
travel time along those roads;
(10) the cost of transportation fuel has increased more
than 80 percent between calendar years 2007 and 2008; and
(11) permitting commercial vehicles to travel on a select
few Interstate System highways within the State at increased
weight limits would provide--
(A) significant savings in the transportation of
goods throughout the State; and
(B) substantial data and an opportunity for
analysis of the impacts of the vehicles on bridges,
highway safety, and pavements.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act the following definitions apply:
(1) Covered interstate system highway.--The term ``covered
Interstate System highway'' means any portion of a highway
designated as a route on the Interstate System that, as of the
date of enactment of this Act, is not exempt from the
requirements of subsection (a) of section 127 of title 23,
United States Code, pursuant to a waiver under that subsection.
(2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
the Idaho Transportation Department.
(3) Interstate system.--The term ``Interstate System'' has
the meaning given the term in section 101(a) of title 23,
United States Code.
(4) Pilot project.--The term ``pilot project'' means the
10-year pilot project of the State, established in 2003 under
House Bill 395 of the State, that permits vehicle combinations
weighing up to 129,000 pounds to be operated on specific routes
in that State.
(5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Transportation.
(6) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Idaho.
SEC. 4. WAIVER OF HIGHWAY FUNDING REDUCTION RELATING TO WEIGHT OF
VEHICLES USING INTERSTATE SYSTEM HIGHWAYS.
(a) Prohibition Relating to Certain Vehicles.--Notwithstanding
section 127(a) of title 23, United States Code, the total amount of
funds apportioned to the State under section 104(b)(1) of that title
for any period may not be reduced under section 127(a) if the State
permits a vehicle combination described in subsection (b) to use a
covered Interstate System highway in the State in accordance with this
Act.
(b) Combination Vehicles in Excess of 105,500 Pounds up to 129,000
Pounds.--A vehicle described in this subsection is a vehicle that--
(1) has a weight in excess of 105,500 pounds but not more
than 129,000 pounds;
(2) consists of a power unit hauling 2 or more trailers or
semitrailers;
(3) does not exceed any vehicle weight limitation that is
applicable under State law to the operation of the vehicle on
highways in the State that are not part of the Interstate
System, as those laws are in effect on the date of enactment of
this Act; and
(4) is limited to travel only on--
(A) the portion of Interstate Route 15 extending
from the Montana border to the junction with Interstate
Route 86;
(B) the portion of Interstate Route 86 extending
from the junction of Interstate Route 15 to the
junction with Interstate Route 84; and
(C) the portion of Interstate Route 84 extending
from the Utah border to the Oregon border.
(c) Termination of Authority.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), this section and
the authority provided under this section shall terminate on
July 1, 2013.
(2) Exceptions.--This section and the authority provided
under this section shall terminate on--
(A) a date that is later than the date specified in
paragraph (1), if the project is extended to that later
date by the State; or
(B) any date that is before, on, or after the date
specified in paragraph (1), if the Secretary--
(i) determines that--
(I) operation of vehicles described
in subsection (b) on covered Interstate
System highways has adversely affected
safety on the overall highway system;
or
(II) the Director has failed to
collect the data described in section
5(2); and
(ii) publishes the determination, together
with the date of termination of this section,
in the Federal Register.
(d) Consultation Regarding Termination for Safety.--In making a
determination under subsection (c)(2)(A)(i), the Secretary shall
consult with the Director.
SEC. 5. RESPONSIBILITIES OF STATE.
For the purpose of section 4, the State shall be considered to meet
the conditions under this section if the Director--
(1) submits to the Secretary a plan for use in meeting the
conditions described in paragraph (2); and
(2) collects data on the net effects that the operation of
vehicles described in section 4(b) on covered Interstate System
highways in the State has on the safety of the overall highway
system, as required by House Bill 395 of the State.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
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