OCTC Orders Study of Rush-Hour Truck Trips

Concerned that commercial trucking may be causing too much traffic congestion, the Orange County Transportation Commission on Monday authorized a study of commute-hour truck trips.

Although the commission is not yet considering restrictions on truck travel, proposals including bans on commute-hour truck deliveries have surfaced at the Southern California Assn. of Governments, a regional planning organization, and at state and regional environmental agencies.

$9,600 Study Authorized

In a report to the county commission Monday, the OCTC staff said the $9,600 study would be conducted by Pasadena-based Transportation Management Systems during the next few months. The study was approved unanimously without discussion as part of the commission’s “consent” agenda.

“Truck traffic has become a major concern on the state highway system and local streets as roadway congestion has increased,” the OCTC staff report said.

“Truck activities have a major impact on road capacity, pavement condition and vehicle safety. During the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, a successful effort was made to reschedule and reroute truck deliveries to reduce congestion on Southern California roads and freeways. This success increased interest in long-term strategies to better manage truck traffic as a form of traffic relief.”

Recent state legislation authorizes the South Coast Air Quality Management District to bar or restrict truck traffic during rush hours on freeways.

The district is holding workshops on varied proposals, including mandatory car-pooling at firms with more than 100 employees.

Transportation Management Systems is expected to produce a “laundry list” of specific actions that could be taken to “reduce the effect of truck movement on peak period congestion,” according to the OCTC report. The firm’s final report is due by Jan. 15.

In other action Monday, commissioners heard Assembly Transportation Commission Chairman Richard Katz (D-Sepulveda) say he may “shelve” his own $3-billion state transportation bond measure because of mounting evidence that Caltrans cannot deliver any more projects any more quickly than it is doing now.

Strongly criticizing Caltrans’ management, Katz said the agency’s delays in processing and completing state highway projects will be one of the major issues confronting the Legislature next year.

Katz also said transportation of hazardous materials through urban areas--as disclosed by The Times in recent articles--would also be a “hot” legislative topic.

However, Katz did not discuss specific proposals for dealing with either Caltrans’ project delays or transportation of hazardous materials.