Officials in Vail, CO, have reached an agreement with a state trucking organization for a “multifaceted approach” toward reducing noise on the stretch of Interstate 70 that runs through the town.
“We want to work with the community and wind up with something that better serves the community,” Greg Fulton, president of the Colorado Motor Carriers Association, told the Vail Daily after the town council agreed Dec. 2 to delay until March any action on a proposed ordinance that would fine truck drivers up to $999 for using engine-compression braking systems within town limits.
“This agreement is a good opportunity for the town to look at a wide variety of noise issues, things way beyond what our industry is responsible for,” Fulton said.
Under the one-year pilot program proposed by town manager Stan Zemler, the town will work with CMCA and the state Transportation Department on a series of education, enforcement and engineering solutions, plus additional traffic education and enforcement by the Vail Police.
Vail Police will begin a four-month program of traffic stops consisting of warnings; after that, police will issue citations, which could approach $999.
Quarterly reports would keep the council up to date on the program’s progress.
Councilman Greg Moffet, who lives within 100 feet or so of the interstate’s eastbound lanes, voted to delay action on the proposal. He previously called the plan a “big group hug.” According to council meeting notes from Oct. 21, he said too much time had been wasted trying to get the attention of the trucking industry.
According to the newspaper, Moffet told Zemler before this week’s council vote: “Stan, you know this is near and dear to me. And some of us ran (for re-election) on this issue. I look to you to give comfort to us we’ll have less noise.”
The ordinance, if ultimately adopted as written, would amend the town code, making it unlawful to use a “dynamic braking device” on any motor vehicle on I-70 between East Vail and Dowd Junction “except for the aversion of immediate and imminent danger.”
Council member Diana Donovan has been against adopting the ordinance from the beginning. She says that the issue is more about safety than noise, and that enforcing the speed limit on I-70 through town, 65 mph, would do far more to increase safety – and reduce noise – than trying to ban engine brakes.
“These guys (truck drivers) are going into this in good faith,” she said. “Truckers are happy to reduce the speed limit. But they want to slow down the four-wheelers, too.”
As part of the deal, the town council agreed to fund the expense of another officer for the Vail Police, which for the first time will enforce the speed limit on the interstate.
