Draft Recommendations on Truck Routes and Speed Limits
Proposed by Tom Carr, Executive Assistant in Charge of Development

A public hearing on these recommendations will be held at the City Council Meeting October 19, 1999.  If you would like to comment, you may contact Mr. Carr at tcarr@ci.hickory.nc.us.

Reduce speed limit to 25 MPH on the city's local residential streets. These are city streets that are in residential zoning districts, carry minor traffic volumes (less than to 2000 vehicles per day), and are not designated as major or minor thoroughfares.

Conduct engineering studies on designated major or minor thoroughfares to determine if lowering speed limits is appropriate. Studies would begin with the one way pairs, 6^th St. NW, 9^th St. SW, 4^th St. NW, and 7th Ave. SW to assess the feasibility of lowering the speed limit to 25-MPH. Also included would be the 45-MPH sections of Old Lenoir Road and NC 127 to determine if lower speed limits will be feasible. Most of the major streets are also state streets, and speed limit changes on state streets require engineering studies and the approval of the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

Wherever possible, adjust signal timing to provide for free flow of traffic at or slightly below the appropriate speed limit. Install signs telling drivers what speed will provide for free flow. Primary candidates for this evaluation would be streets with numerous signals, such as the one-way pairs.

Design inexpensive traffic calming measures (such as adding marked bike lanes, all-way stops, bolder intersection markings, and so forth during studies of wide streets such as 6^th St. NW or 5^th St. NE). Changing the design of the street can be more effective that lowering the speed limit in controlling vehicle speeds.

Define trucks as vehicles with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight of 33,000 pounds or more. This definition excludes most straight trucks, panel trucks and delivery trucks, but includes large trucks with more than two axles, such as tractor-trailers and tandem axle dump trucks. Also excluded from this definition would be public service vehicles, such as garbage collection trucks.

Post appropriate signs at City Limits, Interstate exits and other appropriate locations stating: "Thru Trucks Follow US-NC Routes," "Trucks Follow Designated Routes" or other appropriate signs to direct trucks entering the City of Hickory.

Amend the traffic ordinance to prohibit through truck traffic on city maintained streets experiencing undesired thru truck traffic: i.e. 6^th St. NW, 7^th Ave. SE, 12^th Ave. NW, 16^th Ave. NW, 5^th St. NE. Prohibiting traffic on state streets will require NCDOT approval. Signing streets for "no trucks" would not completely eliminate trucks from using such streets. State law provides that trucks making deliveries or pickups on a street could use the street regardless of its designation.

Pursue truck route designations for major business and industrial streets through NCDOT and, if approved, amend the traffic ordinance to create additional truck routes. The following streets could be considered for truck route designation: US 70, US 321, NC 127, Springs Road; Tate Boulevard; Fairgrove Church Road; Lenoir-Rhyne Boulevard; Sweetwater Road; McDonald Parkway; Highland Ave./US70-A, 9^th Ave. NE, Sandy Ridge Road, 2^nd Ave. NW (west of 321).

Establish a no cost or minimal cost permit system for local trucks. Permits could be bumper or window stickers to help police officers identify trucks serving local businesses. Permits would allow local trucks on streets (such as the one way pairs) where there will be truck traffic due to local business locations. Place "Local Trucks Only" signs on such streets.

Encourage NCDOT to resurface the north one-way pairs to reduce road noise and vibration from trucks. It is anticipated that local trucks will need to continue to use the one way pairs for east/west movements across Hickory.

Adjust signal timing on the one-way pairs to allow uninterrupted through movement at the appropriate speed (25 to 35 mph based on the speed limit study) to reduce starting, stopping and associated noise, vibration and air quality issues associated with trucks.

Publish and distribute educational materials to businesses and industries concerning truck routes.

Encourage NCDOT to make improvements to critical intersections on truck routes to facilitate and encourage their use by truckers. For example, improve the intersection of S. Center Street and US 70 for better access to NC 127.