AuburnPub.com - Trash truck issue a matter of weight, not convenience

Trash truck issue a matter of weight, not convenience

Monday, April 28, 2008 11:44 AM EDT

On April 23, an article about the trash trucks (I am confused after reading it) you said only mentioned rural roads. There are state highways, county and town. The big trucks pay very high taxes as license fees that permit traveling on any highways. The trash trucks can take state highways anywhere they please. There are maximum loads. County and towns have weight limits that are a lot lower than the state. Example: Salt hauling everywhere from the mine south Lansing 34B to 38 to 222 and some to 81. They have to stay on state route highways because of the weight. County roads hold a lot less weight, they are shorter, but can't. If these people are so upset with trucks, realize the railroads haul a lot cheaper per miles per ton. They were forced out of business. The article in the paper did not mention three types of roads and the allowed weights. I see that people in cities up in arms about it. They are all on state highways going through them. State weight controls these roads. Set roads straight.

G. Stuart Powers

Locke

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The Citizens' Say

There are 6 comment(s)

Farmer's Gal wrote on Apr 29, 2008 12:14 PM:

" I also agree that shipping things across country by rail is much more economical and environment-friendly than trucking. The Teamsters got into that one and the railroads went down the tubes. The government isn't very good at maintaining roads OR railbeds -- that needs to be fixed but is a separate issue from trucking vs. railroad shipping.

I personally feel very strongly that trucks should be used for local transport only. They wouldn't need to be so big or heavy, would cause less wear and tear to our highways, would not put drivers at risk for putting in such long hours that they fall asleep and have an accident, nor would they have to be away from home for such long periods of time and we wouldn't have the danger to people, property and pets of parades of over-heavy trucks whizzing past our homes too fast. I am pretty sure a train can haul more goods with less fuel than a phalanx trucks could. "

hilltop wrote on Apr 29, 2008 4:11 AM:

" County already owns the railbeds ,for at least 10 years ,cayuga county and most are still in use today -snowmobile trails. "

brew1234 wrote on Apr 29, 2008 12:52 AM:

" I repeat the government should build and maintain the railbeds not the railroads. They build and maintain the roads for trucks and charge a tax for this service. A road use tax. The railroads would pay a use tax. It is done in Europe and their railroads are much more efficient. I am talking about both freight and passenger rails. The savings in fuel, infrastructure and overcrowding of highways and parking lots and pollution and efficiecy would be unfathomable. Can you wrap your tiny mind around that railroad boy? "

nature lover wrote on Apr 28, 2008 3:16 PM:

" OMG what a laugh Brew again - a "gov't takeover" of railbeds!! Half of this home's income is from a very profitable railroad - one that is taking full advantage of free enterprise. You call us locals fools saying we cry for this or that but for the gov't to take over the rails? Now I am roflmao because obviously u aren't aware of the 90% complete disaster Amtrak is since the gov't did a "takeover". U really are clueless. People just don't get this trash truck prob and are quick to defend "truckers" in general. No one is complaining about the goods and services we receive however what does a NYC trash truck do for you? This is the Fingerlakes - most of those trucks have some type of violation. If there was only more money in the budget for that special task force because then they would get the drift to avoid this area and take Rts 90 and 81 as they should be. Those cops are the best!! "

brew1234 wrote on Apr 28, 2008 1:26 PM:

" I have news for you. Your town, county, and many state roads are rural. "

brew1234 wrote on Apr 28, 2008 1:01 PM:

" Good point made here. We could save the infrastructure and reduce dependence on oil and trucks by government takeover of the railbeds. The government would own the railbeds and tax the railroads so they could make improvements. Losing the expense of railbed maintenance would be a boost the RRs and put them on a level playing field with trucking companies. The same principle would apply to rail passenger lines. Railroads could solve a lot of economic and environmental problems. The proof is in European railways. "

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