EMMITSBURG, Md. – The truck traffic through Emmitsburg via MD 140 has continued to increase over the past few years beyond projected rates, but any resolution could be years in the making.

The trucks are generally not those required for local services, but through-trucks using MD 140 to reach PA 116 to the northwest, and U.S. 15 to the east. Emmitsburg is caught between the points, mainly because of having no direct Rt. 116-U.S. 15 connection.

Based on Maryland State Highway Administration and Frederick County Truck Volume Map 2003-2005 traffic counts, more than 1,000 trucks (about half of which are semis) were using Main Street daily in 2005.

Trucks becoming problematic

Town streets committee member and local resident Catherine Forrence, told The Dispatch, “Our traffic problems are caused by folks who have no interest in altering their routes to avoid Emmitsburg.

Pennsylvania commuters and interstate truck drivers don’t care that they are destroying our town.”

Forrence is concerned that, aside from traffic congestion itself, increasing heavy truck traffic could be damaging the roadways, causing structural damage to roadside homes and businesses, and noise and emissions pollution.

Additionally, as she recently pointed out in a letter addressed to Senator Barbara Mikulski, Forrence believes truckers are using Main Street (MD 140) as a way to circumvent roadside weighing stations elsewhere, meaning that unsafe trucks may be slipping through town.

The local committee member also noted that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations “do not prohibit trucks carrying hazardous materials from traveling through small towns like Emmitsburg,” with the result that there are no prohibitions against vehicles transporting explosives, poisonous materials and even radioactive wastes through the village.

Forrence is seeking truck restrictions in town, and help from Pennsylvania in establishing a PA 116 to U.S. 15 bypass, which seems unlikely. Barring that, she has suggested that perhaps a tollbooth on U.S. 15 at the Mason-Dixon Line could provide some funding.

Are truck restrictions legal?

Emmitsburg may not legally be able to ban truck types or weights from state roadways, but the state apparently can. Municipalities throughout the country have been successful at restricting traffic on town roads, but not state roads. The state must do that.

New Jersey has led the way by banning trucks from using NJ 29 “which has held up legally against trucking association’s counter actions,” according to raintreecounty.com.

While most legislation has successfully banned trucks of certain types and weights along scenic routes, the New Jersey Route 29 effort was equally aimed at getting truck traffic out of rural communities.

Until any truck restrictions are put in place on Main Street, other tools are available that might help improve the quality of life along the state road to some degree, including implementing “surprise” roadside inspections and strict police monitoring on truck speeds at town entrances and through the town square.

See related story, “Town bypass, easier wished for than done,” in the Oct. 19 issue of The Dispatch and “Are truck restrictions legal?” in this issue.

For additional reading, visit Resources for Saving America’s Rural Roads and Communities at http://www.raintreecounty.com/savingRd.html.