Incorporating Hauling Permits Into the RUMA Process

Transcription

1 Incorporating Hauling Permits Into the RUMA Process Background Section of the ORC (1) The director of transportation with respect to all highways that are a part of the state highway system and local authorities with respect to highways under their jurisdiction, upon application in writing,.. shall issue a special regional heavy hauling permit.authorizing the applicant to operate or move a vehicle or combination of vehicles as follows: (emphasis added) 1

2 Background (D) The director or a local authority shall issue a special regional heavy hauling permit under division (A)(1) of this section upon application and payment of the applicable fee. However, the director or local authority may issue or withhold a special permit specified in division (A)(2) of this section. If a permit is to be issued, the director or local authority may limit or prescribe conditions of operation for the vehicle and may require the posting of a bond or other security conditioned upon the sufficiency of the permit fee to compensate for damage caused to the roadway or a street or highway structure. In addition,....a local authority, as a condition of issuance of an overweight permit, may require the applicant to develop and enter into a mutual agreement with the local authority to compensate for or to repair excess damage caused to the roadway by travel under the permit. Additional Considerations Section of the ORC (Frost Law) When thaws or excessive moisture render the improved highways of this state or any sections of them insufficient to bear the traffic thereon, or when such highways would be damaged or destroyed by heavy traffic during the period of thawing or excessive moisture, the maximum weight of vehicle and load, or the maximum speed, or both, for motor vehicles, as prescribed by law shall be reduced in the following manner: (A) On state highways, the director of transportation shall prescribe such reduction which shall not be more than twenty-five per cent; (B) On improved highways and all other roads in the county, other than state highways, the board of county commissioners shall prescribe such reduction as the condition of the road or highway justifies, but in no case shall the reduction be more than fifty per cent. The schedule of the reduction of maximum weights and speeds shall be filed, for the information of the public, in the office of the board of each county in which the schedule is operative and in the office of the director. The director or board, at least one day before such reduction becomes effective, shall cause to be placed and retained on such highways, at both ends and at the points of intersections by principal roads, during the period of such reduced limitation of weight, speed, or both, signs, of substantial construction, which will conspicuously indicate the limitations of weight and speed, which are allowed on the highway and the date on which such limitations shall go into effect...no person shall operate upon any such highway, a motor vehicle whose maximum weight or speed is in excess of the limitations prescribed. 2

3 Needs Local authorities Properly address freight movement Industry Not overtax their limited resources Most townships have little to no paid staff Apply for and receive special hauling permits Timelines and quantity needed are critical Certain projects will require hundreds of such permits Both parties achieving their objective increases safety, accountability and allows business to continue in a timely manner Streamlines the permitting process and integrating it within the RUMA process is a natural progression Current RUMA Process Operator approaches Authority about using a route within the Authority s jurisdiction Discussion and planning Operator has knowledge of what freight will be necessary Authority has knowledge of bridges, culverts, roadway structural capacity,etc. Engineering analysis and road improvement or maintenance plan may be necessary Once RUMA is signed, all operator traffic regardless of weight or dimension is generally allowed to travel roadway 3

4 Adding Special Hauling Permits to RUMA s During the Operator/Authority discussion, a parameter is determined that considers a maximum weight or dimension that can routinely travel the haul route Based on information obtained from roadway/bridge analysis performed by either the Authority and/or Operator Should consider the nature of traffic expected during the project Roadway circumstances and safety are the main determining factors, however maximum should be set at a level that can lessen administrative burden Adding Special Hauling Permits For oversized/overweight loads below the maximum: Carrier will submit a form to the Authority prior to travel Form details vehicle specifics, time of travel, etc. No action would be required by the Authority Form and corresponding RUMA would be carried by driver For extraordinary loads in excess of the maximum: Prior to travel, the freight carrier must submit the same form denoting the special circumstances Carrier must receive at least a verbal approval from the Authority Authority may prescribe special conditions (i.e. pilot vehicle, time of travel) As before, driver would carry the form and RUMA as they travel 4

5 Example Operator proposes a pad to contain six oil and gas wells Maximum level for loads is set at 130,000 lbs to account for bridge that operator upgrades All pad construction, drilling, completions and production equipment loads would generally fall below this maximum Those in excess of 80,000 lbs. would submit form to Authority Six months after well completion, Operator proposes to locate a compressor station adjacent to the pad and use same haul route Operator will need to bring in 12 separate 200,000 lbs compressors to complete project Freight carrier would need to receive specific permission for each of those larger loads All other traffic would comply accordingly 5

6 6

7 Additional Considerations RUMA effectively becomes a permit Only good for one year, must be renewed Fairly specific language must be included into the RUMA itself Opportunity for freight specifics to be included Methods of contact must be defined What s next? Thoughts from the group? Any necessary changes? 7