Group Formed To Tackle Commercial Truck Traffic In Residential Baltimore
Baltimore County has formed a group dedicated to looking into the issue of commercial truck traffic in residential neighborhoods. The Baltimore County Residential Truck Traffic Work Group will be composed of community members and county officials along with representatives from the commercial transportation industry. The group aims to minimize truck traffic in residential areas and improve living conditions for residents.
Improving quality of life
The group’s formation has been a long time in the making. “For years, residents have raised concerns about heavy truck traffic on local roads, and they are looking for leadership to address this important quality of life concern,” said Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski. “By bringing together community members, county staff, and representatives from the commercial transportation industry, we can begin a thoughtful and collaborative process to make meaningful changes to our neighborhoods.”
Commercial vehicle height monitoring system
A commercial vehicle height monitoring system program organized by Baltimore County was recently given the green light by the Maryland General Assembly after passing appropriate legislation during the 2020 legislative session. This program is intended to put a limit on the number of commercial truck traffic on roads throughout southeastern and southwestern Baltimore County. Before the program can legally go ahead, however, the county must first put together a work group, which includes representatives from the commercial transportation industry. These representatives will oversee and advise the program before it’s finally implemented.
Tasks ahead
The work group intends to assess existing commercial truck routes, determine future enforcement areas, and suggest improvements on existing signage. Additionally, the work group will suggest a limit for the number of cameras as part of the vehicle height monitoring systems. They also intend to put forth suggestions of specific vehicle makes and models that should be exempt from height restrictions. Maryland business owners can also take care to choose compact and quiet yet efficient vans when possible. In particular, looking at consumer ratings can reveal the pros and cons of specific minivans. Business owners should look for reliable and high-performance vans with quiet engines and motors to ensure minimal disturbance in noise-sensitive areas.
A preliminary report will be completed and submitted by the Baltimore County Residential Truck Traffic Work Group by March 31, 2021. A final report will then be submitted by August 31, 2021. This final report will ultimately inform legislation.
