Longer Combination Vehicles on Exclusive Truck Lanes: Interstate 90 Corridor Case Study

Population and economic growth could nearly double the volume of freight
moved over the U.S. transportation system by 2035. All freight modes will
struggle to increase productivity to accommodate the additional demand, and
each freight mode faces its own set of challenges to implement productivity and
capacity improvements. Growing concerns over greenhouse gas emissions and
energy conservation are applying additional pressure to increase productivity.
Due to population growth, passenger travel is also projected to increase. This
increase in freight movement and passenger travel must be done safely.
Separated truck lanes, in conjunction with the use of longer combination vehicles
(LCV), present a potential opportunity to boost transportation productivity and
reduce emissions and energy consumption per ton mile of freight moved for the
nation’s highway commerce while at the same time improving safety through
the elimination of conflicts with passenger cars. Recent studies
1
suggest that
trucking economics may support the feasibility of truck toll lane development
with the provision of opportunities for the trucking industry to realize greater
productivity through the expanded utilization of LCVs – double or triple trailers.
This would potentially allow LCVs to operate on toll truck ways in states where
LCV operations are now allowed, or toll truckways to be built in states where
they are not allowed provided Federal legislation supports it, permitting such
tolls on appropriate portions of the Interstate and, in some cases, using Interstate
right-of-way for expansions to accommodate the toll truck ways.