Gov. David Paterson on Tuesday announced that a regulation to reduce truck traffic in rural communities has moved a step closer to being established.

The state Department of Transportation measure would require trucks 45-feet or longer to use interstate highways as primary routes.

The draft regulation will now be scrutinized and public comment will be heard before changes are made to it.

At the same time, a traffic-calming initiative to slow speeds and improve safety on several routes through the Finger Lakes region will be developed with feedback from local officials, according to a news release from the governor's office.

The proposed regulation must go through the formal rule-making process, which requires a thorough analysis of the proposal's potential costs and benefits and environmental and economic impacts, approval by the Governors Office of Regulatory Reform, a 45-day public comment period and an evaluation of comments received. The rule-making process could take six months or more.

The draft regulation and information about traffic calming is available on the NYSDOT Web site at https://www.nysdot.gov/portal/page/portal/programs/truckpolicy