Trucks weighing more than five tons are supposed to drive down Law Street, but according to City Councilman Frank Ferrando, over the past eight years complaints from Law Street residents have continued, and he's skeptical that enough is being done to correct the situation.
It's time to get tough, he said at the end of last night's council meeting.
"If there are police there and there is an overweight vehicle, my feeling is, that overweight vehicle ought to be ticketed. Period," Ferrando said. "It ought to be ticketed and ticketed until word gets around that you better stay off the street or you’re going to get a ticket."
According to Chief of Police Randy Baker, however, that's the job his department has been doing.
"There have been numerous special details and zone cars assigned to the area," Baker said in an email this morning. "Several tickets have been issued."
OK:-The reason seems
OK:-The reason seems obvious-The bridge-but Is there another?
Are the streets built to take
Are the streets built to take that much weight over there? I know that on my street, that much weight can damage the road bed.
Also I was thinking that this
Also I was thinking that this puts these big vehicles right in a school zone and a very residential area.So that could be a reason too?
Glad you're all over the
Glad you're all over the issue Frank.....8 years later!
Going on Law Street to take a
Going on Law Street to take a short cut to Ellicott
(RT 63) when comeing north is nothing new and we all know it.
But it became a bigger problem with the detour to Law Street due to Walnut (Rt 98) being rebuilt.
That project is almost done, so it should get better.
But we also know that if they give out more tickets, some people will come on this site and say we are being mean to truck drivers.
Gentlemen, There is nothing
Gentlemen,
There is nothing wrong with the bridge or the roads. These weight limits are political.
Posted by Mark Janofsky on
Posted by Mark Janofsky on October 14, 2009 - 12:24pm
Gentlemen,
There is nothing wrong with the bridge or the roads. These weight limits are political.
Who determines weight limits? The DOT or the city government?
Bea, The responsibility for
Bea,
The responsibility for any type of posting goes to who ever has jurisdiction over the roadway. In this case that would be the city. However, the city can’t post whatever they want. Under state and federal law, if a number is put on those signs, there must be an engineering analysis to justify it.
Posted by Mark Janofsky on
Posted by Mark Janofsky on October 14, 2009 - 2:30pm
Bea,
The responsibility for any type of posting goes to who ever has jurisdiction over the roadway. In this case that would be the city. However, the city can’t post whatever they want. Under state and federal law, if a number is put on those signs, there must be an engineering analysis to justify it.
If that is the case, Mark, how does weight limits become political? Not being snarky, just curious.
They become political when
They become political when elected officials give the directive for their placement and no engineering analyses exist. Seeing fire trucks use our local city streets and a loaded engine is roughly 30 tons, I would say the roads and bridges are good and the signs are political.
Posted by Mark Janofsky on
Posted by Mark Janofsky on October 14, 2009 - 2:30pm
Bea,
The responsibility for any type of posting goes to who ever has jurisdiction over the roadway. In this case that would be the city. However, the city can’t post whatever they want. Under state and federal law, if a number is put on those signs, there must be an engineering analysis to justify it.
Posted by Mark Janofsky on October 14, 2009 - 3:28pm
They become political when elected officials give the directive for their placement and no engineering analyses exist.
Mark,
You seem to be skirting an issue, yet making a serious accusation.
Under state and federal law, there needs to be an engineering analysis to justify posting a weight limit, but you are saying that the city did it without the benefit of an engineering analysis. If so, then the city is violating city and federal law.
Can you document that there are no engineering analysis to justify the weight limits in the city?
You’re right, I’m being
You’re right, I’m being vague. And no, I won’t document or reference anything. It’s not out of disrespect or that I can’t. It’s because I believe trucks should keep to the highest level of road, for as long and far as possible, to reach their destination. Even if that means going further than they need to. By citing specific information, unscrupulous truckers could find loopholes hinder that. On the other hand, ticketing someone over an unjustified ordinance, for doing their job is ridiculous.
"Violating state and federal law" is a bit harsh when you’re looking at an error in procedure. However, the city would be much better served by changing the existing ordinance, removing the weight limits and simply posting “NO TRUCKS” “EXCEPT LOCAL DELEVERY”.
FWIW: About 5:45 p.m., I
FWIW: About 5:45 p.m., I drove down Law and saw a patrol car in a strategically placed spot. I turned around and went back and asked the officer if he was scouting for overweight trucks. He said, "You got it."
As far as construction of
As far as construction of Walnut St. goes-the state very poorly signed the road closure in Alexander-the one sign I saw was on Rt 98,about 200' north of Route 20,far enough ahead of Rt 20 so once you started going north,all you would have is side roads to turn around-state should have put signs right on Rt 20 saying Rt.98 north closed in city of Batavia-seek alternate route-especially w/people unfamiliar w/ area.Why was the weight limit sign on S.Jackson near Law covered w/ garbage bag,but the one near Rt.63 was left uncovered? Make sure the fire trucks and garbage trucks don't use Law street-