SKANEATELES - State officials have decided that a public meeting last fall in Syracuse will count as the public hearing on its proposed truck traffic regulations.

As a result, residents' last chance to express their opinions about regulations for long-haul truck traffic would be in written form during an upcoming 45-day public comment period. The state has yet to decide when it will publicly post the finalized proposed regulations that would limit routes that long-haul tractor trailers can travel on in the Finger Lakes region.

The Upstate Safety Task Force - a coalition of local officials who support regulations - met in Skaneateles Thursday to talk about how members want to approach this public comment period, which does not have a set date.

The task force is waiting for state officials to post the proposed rules on the public register. This action will begin a period of gathering public comments that will last for 45 days.

“These regulations won't take effect on the 46th day,” said Chuck Murphy, legislative aide to Sen. John DeFrancisco. “After the 45-day period, then DOT's got to look at it and it will take some time to make a decision it they are going to go forward or not.”

The task force members represent Finger Lakes communities such as Tompkins County, Ithaca, Owasco, Skaneateles and Aurora, as well as representatives from state offices of Assemblyman Will Barclay, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, and state Sen. John DeFrancisco.

Since the coalition met in May, the New York State Motor Truck Association - a vocal opponent of the regulations - has requested copies of the Skaneateles Village Police Department's truck citation records. The village has specific enforcement for tractor-trailers. The records show the village's truck enforcement officer has issued tickets for mechanical issues such as low tire pressure, and driver infractions such as driving without a license and driving while intoxicated.

“I think that's an indication that they're very concerned,” Skaneateles village Major Bob Green said of the association's request.

Green added that three cars were parked around the village for three days counting vehicles. Each car had a magnet attached that read Traffic Count Study.

Task force members had suggested Green write a letter to the DOT about the change in truck traffic from last year since the village received a grant to pay for the truck enforcement officer. Green said the number of tractor trailers that rumble through the village has dropped dramatically, which he attributed to the enforcement specific to trucks.

Department of Transportation representatives have stated that they will consider only new statements and information during the public comment process. However, officials will keep track of the number of comments for and against the proposal.

Meanwhile, Owasco Supervisor John Klink said the amount of semitrailers that travel through Owasco on Route 38A has increased noticeably. Green suggested that the trucks are cutting through to 38A south of Skaneateles to avoid going through the village.

Klink suggested reaching out to constituents along usual truck routes once the public hearing period starts to notify them that they can make comments.

Some representatives suggested they write flyers to notify how people can make comments about the tentative regulations, and distribute them once the comment portion of the process begins.