The Southern California Association of Governments has published a briefing paper saying development of user-supported dedicated truckways offers a self-financing option that would ease congestion and reduce vehicle emissions in southern California.

The paper proposes 142 miles of 2x2-lane truckway from the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports northeast through the greater Los Angeles area through the San Gabriel Mountains to Barstow on I-15 on the edge of the Mojave Desert. From there, it would continue east to Oklahoma City, Memphis, Knoxville, TN, and via I-70 to Denver and eventually, Chicago.

The idea is to link California’s port complex and the nation’s highways by allowing triple trailer and other longer combination vehicle operations. The proposal originated from the California-based Reason Public Policy Institute, a think tank.

"By permitting up to double the payload carrying capacity of presently authorized truck sizes and weights in California, the operation of LCVs along dedicated truck facilities offers the potential of fewer total trips and less regional vehicle miles traveled, a corresponding reduction in vehicle emissions, and, more importantly for private equipment operators, greater capital utilization margins,” the SCAG report said.

“These operating benefits, realized as a reduction in operating costs, were estimated by the Reason Foundation of having a value of up to $40 billion a year at the national level. The capacity utilization benefits accruing with the use of LCVs can commence on trips as short as 14 miles in length, and are soundly beneficial for trips greater than 25 miles."