In brief: Utah expands EV charging, Houston improves roads, Michigan approves heavier electric trucks

Houston: Consider implementing a truck route plan to improve safety and efficiency

Houston is closer to implementing a comprehensive truck routing plan that could make a significant impact on the way truckers transport goods in the city. According to a municipal document dated November 9, the initiative seeks to address the projected 60% increase in freight tonnage between 2015 and 2040.

The primary objective of this new plan is to improve multimodal safety, raise the quality of life, preserve the integrity of infrastructure, increase efficiency and promote economic vitality. This approach becomes crucial given the continued growth in the movement of goods in the region.

The scope of the plan would cover all commercial vehicles with three or more axles, as well as trucks weighing more than 26,000 pounds. The proposed truck routes would fall into three categories:

Through Truck Routes: Designated for commercial vehicle traffic that cross the city on interstate highways, state highways, toll roads, and urban corridors critical for the transportation of goods.

Local Truck Routes: main roads that connect truck routes with local destinations, serving as alternatives in case of closures due to construction or emergencies.

No Passage Streets: segments of road where the passage of trucks is prohibited, intended only for local access. Access would be permitted for the collection or delivery of goods, construction materials, or solid waste to or from properties within the city.

Commercial vehicle operators who do not use designated routes may face an obligation to provide evidence of the route or destination used. This approach seeks to balance growing logistics activity with the need to maintain safety and efficiency on the roads of Houston, the fourth largest city in the US.