PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 468-38-075 Overlength exemptions and 468-38-390 Winter road conditions, both reference signs used in the mountain passes that will soon be obsolete.
| CURRENT SIGNAGE IN USE AT MOUNTAIN PASS LOCATIONS, MEANINGS, AND NEW SIGNS |
||
| Current Sign | Means | New Sign |
| TRACTION TIRES ADVISED |
No oversize vehicles may move. | TRACTION ADVISORY OVERSIZED VEHICLES PROHIBITED |
| TRACTION TIRES REQUIRED |
No oversize vehicles may move. Vehicles over 10,000 GVW must use chains. | VEHICLES OVER 10,000 GVWR CHAINS REQUIRED |
| CHAINS REQUIRED ON ALL VEHICLES EXCEPT ALL-WHEEL DRIVE |
plus no oversize vehicles may move. | ALL VEHICLES CHAINS REQUIRED EXCEPT ALL-WHEEL DRIVE |
| Note: | "TRACTION ADVISORY/OVERSIZED VEHICLES PROHIBITED" will be used in conjunction with the "CHAINS REQUIRED" signs. |
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 46.44.090.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will deploy new signage for use in the mountain passes, effective November 1, 2001. The signage will have significant changes in the verbiage used to communicate to motorists, particularly motor carriers. In order for the signs to have a basis for enforcement the rules need to be amended to reference the new verbiage.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The WSDOT is working in coordination with the Washington State Patrol (WSP) to amend WAC 204-24-030 Standards for studded tires and 204-24-050 Use of tire chains or other traction devices, which also references the old verbiage. An emergency WAC change has been filed by both WSDOT and the WSP to ensure enforcement of the new signage during the interim period needed to get a permanent rule change.
Process for Developing New Rule: Agency study.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Barry Diseth, Washington State Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier Services, P.O. Box 47367, Olympia, WA 98504-7367, e-mail disethb@wsdot.wa.gov, phone (360) 704-6346, fax (360) 704-6350.
October 2, 2001
John F. Conrad
Assistant Secretary
Engineering and Regional Operations