Fiscal Note
No expenditure required.
Title
Opposing proposals or legislation allowing the increase in the size and weight of trucks on Wisconsin's highways.
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Madison is continually concerned for the health, welfare, and safety of its residents and its employees; and
WHEREAS, the City of Madison is concerned by attempts at the State level to increase the size, weight, and allowable number of truck trailers on all state highways; and
WHEREAS, the City of Madison believes that bigger and heavier trucks pose a serious threat to highway safety because of their added weight and inherent instability, and will inevitably lead to more accidents and fatalities in such accidents; and
WHEREAS, bigger and heavier trucks will cause greater acceleration in the deterioration of Wisconsin's highways, roads, and especially bridges, causing serious and expensive damage to such highways, roads, and bridges, the burden for which will fall on local taxpayers; and
WHEREAS, if new State standards are adopted, the City of Madison will have no authority to regulate dangerous trucks on the numerous city, county and state roads within Madison city limits, including University Avenue, E. Washington Avenue, the Beltline, Stoughton Road, and Northport Drive;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Common Council of the City of Madison does hereby oppose any proposals or legislation at any level of government that would allow increases in the size and weight of trucks, and supports the position of the Wisconsin Initiative for Safe Highways on such legislation.