Regardless of the impacts that heavy truck traffic may have on the quality of life in your community, it is difficult to modify or restrict most truck traffic. This is because trucks have a legal right to travel along truck routes.

But, there are some steps you can take to reduce the impacts of trucks.

First, you must objectively identify the impacts of truck traffic, such as increased potential for accidents, high noise levels, or traffic congestion.

Then, analyze and document specific problem areas. For example, you may perform a capacity analysis of a particular intersection to determine if it is operating at an acceptable level of service.

Finally, develop mitigation strategies that address the problem areas you identified. Mitigation strategies could include:

• Coordination of traffic signals through your community. This will reduce the number of times trucks have to stop at red lights and start accelerating again and will reduce congestion and associated air and noise pollution.
• Horizontal and vertical curve improvements.
• Intersection widening.
• Pedestrian safety improvements, such as the installation of pedestrian crossing signals and medians.
• Zoning changes to encourage the development of truck stops at locations that limit impacts to your local community.
• Enforcement of speed limits, weight limits, and traffic signal laws.
• Encouraging and expanding the use of the Thruway and other interstate highways by truckers.
• Raising truck driver awareness that your community has concerns about the local truck impacts through the use of signs, radio broadcasts, or public information campaigns.
• Educating your community members about the need to move goods into, out of, and through the area, as well as about the positive economic impacts related to truck traffic.

These strategies should be developed with a diverse group of stakeholders that include state and local transportation authorities, planning departments, state and local police, trucking companies, chambers of commerce, and residents.