Interesting concept. Have to see how that shakes out. I think the way technology is going the autonomous truck will be commonplace by 2025, won’t need testing roadways at that point.
There are freight only routes, they are called boxcar trains. But Big Trucking likes to see cargo rail die off.
I’m all for this. It’s getting harder and harder to commute on the freeway with a speed limit of 70, when you’re surrounded by 18-wheelers making lane changes and throwing rocks at you and so forth. The other day a mud flap flew off a truck and smashed my windshield. I don’t call it my drive to work anymore, I call it my daily Ben Hur chariot race.
As log as the trucks cant use car lanes. They will be constantly repairing the truck lanes all the time.
“The state is waiting for a response from the federal government regarding funding for the $1.8 billion project, but say that, regardless of federal funding, Governor Nathan Deal says GDOT will be moving forward with the project using funds gathered by the state’s Transportation Funding Act, which raised fuel prices back in 2015”
Time for the trucking industry to pay “it’s fair share!” Truckers have these “this truck paid X in taxes for highways last year,” and it’s always a pittance. The way our highways are built, if they were only for passenger vehicles, the’d last almost indefinitely here in CA with the exception of those where snow removal is required.
With truck only roads, let the trucks pay for 100% of them and their maintenance. Trucks have had a free ride on the taxpayers for years. After all, our railroads have to pay to maintain their tracks.
Don’t forget that the Interstate Highways were built for Interstate TRUCK traffic and were supposedly designed to handle heavy loads, and a way to move military vehicles.
Wasn’t all that long ago that slower traffic kept right, left lanes for faster traffic and far left for passing - when feasible.
Then the Interstates turned into commuter routes and traffic continually jammed on ‘super highways’.
Then someone came along and figured it would be a good idea to restrict trucks to the two right lanes.
Now, the people that poked along at 5 to 10 MPH below the speed limit were having ALL the trucks ‘running up’ on them as the truckers figured the two right lanes were theirs.
So now, the slowpokes get over the left to keep the trucks away from them, thereby forcing those doing the speed limit to navigate around them.
I AM FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND HERE TO HELP.....yea right
Otherwise known as a “train.”
They really need to fix the real problem which is Atlanta itself.
Funny when you think about it.
They’re raming trains down the common driver’s throat, and seem ignorant of the same concept for freight.
So what’s the real motive behind this?
I suspect it’s some Leftist’s idea of a swell way to once and for all force ‘those idiot drivers’ who refuse to give up their private cars, and the ability to go when and where they want in one third the time, and in the privacy of their own car.
How about allowing cars that don’t mind competing with trucks and banning trucks fro traditional paths where truck routes are available?
Cargo on ships gets on and off in containers. Trains can haul containers. What’s needed is another train route from Macon to 40+ miles north, preferably north of Atlanta, where long distance trucks can pick up and discharge their freight going to and from the ports in the Gulf - skipping the interstates in Atlanta altogether, other than direct deliveries to Atlanta.
Thought we had that system now called a ‘railroad’, no cars allowed.