Sec. L-1. 29-A MRSA §2354-B, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 421, §1 and affected by §2, is amended to read:
§2354-B. Pilot project to allow commercial vehicles at Canadian weight limits to travel from the Canadian border at Calais to Baileyville and from the Canadian border at Van Buren to a rail yard in Van Buren
1. Pilot project. Notwithstanding section 2354, the Commissioner of Transportation, in consultation with the Department of Public Safety and the Department of the Secretary of State, is authorized to conduct a pilot project that allows certain commercial vehicles at Canadian gross vehicle weight limits to travel from the Canadian border at Calais to Baileyville and from the Canadian border at Van Buren to a rail yard in Van Buren. This pilot project must include the following conditions and components.
A. The only allowable route routes of travel under the pilot project is are travel from the United States-Canada border in Calais, across North Street to U.S. Route 1, north on U.S. Route 1 to Access Road in Baileyville, east on Access Road to Domtar Woodland Mill on Main Street and north on Main Street to the Louisiana-Pacific Oriented Strand Board mill in Baileyville; and from the United States-Canada border in Van Buren on Bridge Street, east into the rail yard in Van Buren, located approximately 2/10 of one mile from the border.
B. Allowable truck configuration under this pilot project must be limited to:
(1) A 3-axle truck tractor with a 3-axle semitrailer at a gross vehicle weight of 108,900 pounds; and
(2) A 3-axle truck tractor with a semitrailer-semitrailer combination, configured as a B-train double with 8 axles total, at a gross vehicle weight of 137,700 pounds. The weight of the 2nd semitrailer may not exceed the weight of the first semitrailer.
C. Maine axle weight limits, axle group limits, commodity allowances, maximum dimensions and all other commercial vehicle limits and requirements must apply under the pilot project, except that the B-train double overall length limit must be 82.02 feet, or 25 meters.
D. The manufacturer's ratings for gross vehicle weight, axle capacity, brake systems and other components for which a manufacturer's rating is available may not be exceeded under the pilot project.
E. Each truck combination under the pilot project must display a credential obtained for a fee from the Secretary of State. The fee must be established by the Commissioner of Transportation in an amount to cover related administrative costs, compliance monitoring and the additional cost of highway damage resulting from the pilot project, calculated using accepted engineering practices. The Secretary of State shall adopt rules to implement this paragraph in consultation with the Department of Transportation and the Department of Public Safety. Rules adopted pursuant to this paragraph are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
F. The Commissioner of Transportation may revoke the privileges under the pilot project of participating trucks and trucking companies for cause, including repeatedly exceeding size and weight limits or operating outside the designated route of travel. Revocation by the Commissioner of Transportation is considered a final agency action.
2. Definition. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, "B-train double" means a truck tractor-semitrailer-semitrailer combination vehicle in which the 2 trailing units are connected with a B-train assembly. The B-train assembly is a rigid frame extension attached to the rear frame of a first semitrailer that allows for a 5th wheel connection point for a 2nd semitrailer. This combination has one less articulation point than the conventional A-dolly-connected truck tractor-semitrailer-trailer combination.
3. Report. The Commissioner of Transportation shall submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters for presentation to the First Regular Session of the 124th Legislature. The report must include the status of the pilot project, the impact of the pilot project on road conditions and recommendations for continuance, discontinuance or modification of the pilot project's terms.
4. Termination of pilot project. The Commissioner of Transportation is authorized to terminate the pilot project at any time if, in the commissioner's judgment, continuation of the pilot project would cause excessive damage to a public way.
5. Repeal. This section is repealed December 31, 2010.
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