IMPACTS OF THE EXTENDED-WEIGHT COAL HAUL ROAD SYSTEM

The Extended-Weight Coal Haul Road System, created by the Kentucky Legislature in 1986, consists of all roads which carry over 50,000 tons of coal in a calendar year. Trucks hauling coal on this system are authorized to exceed normal weight limits through the payment of an annual decal fee. A research study was initiated in July of 1992 to analyze the impacts of the extended-weight system. Analyses in this report are based on the following: historical data on coal production and transportation; data from coal decal applications; interviews of legislators, transportation officials, coal company representatives, and coal trucking representatives; newspaper articles; vehicle classification data; analyses of pavement costs; pavement rideability data; and accident data. Primary conclusions include: 1) The extended-weight system has apparently been somewhat successful in accomplishing the objective of enhancing the competitiveness and economic viability of the Kentucky coal industry; 2) Overall accident rates did not increase as a result of implementation of the extended-weight system, but the fatal accident injury rates were significantly higher on the extended-weight system and for trucks operating with the coal decal; 3) Advance-warning flashers have been evaluated and recommended as a means of reducing intersection accidents involving heavy/coal trucks; 4) The coal-decal fee structure results in a net annual loss in Road Fund revenue of approximately $2 million; 5) Forty percent of revenue from decal fees are allocated to counties even though county-maintained roads comprise only eight percent of the extended-weight system; 6) Heavier weights of coal-decal trucks add approximately $9 million annually to the pavement overlay costs; 7) Road users throughout the state are subsidizing the movement of Kentucky coal by participating in the cost of maintaining and improving the highway system; and 8) Possibly reflecting the increased funding of extended-weight roads, the rideability index has risen to a level above the statewide average. The primary recommendation was that the extended-weight system should evolve into a comprehensive trucking network. A "Resource and Commodity Highway System" was evaluated as a separate study and found to be a feasible and desirable means of providing a trucking highway network that is fully compatible with the dimensions and characteristics of large trucks.

• Record URL:
  • http://uknowledge.uky.edu/ktc_researchreports/740
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Study title: Impacts of the Extended-Weight Coal Haul Road System.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Kentucky, Lexington

  Kentucky Transportation Center
  College of Engineering, 176 Raymond Building
  Lexington, KY  United States  40506-0281

  Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

  200 Mero Street
  Frankfort, KY  United States  40622

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Pigman, J
  • Crabtree, J
  • Agent, K
  • Graves, C
  • Deacon, J
• Publication Date: 1995-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 130 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Axle load force; Coal; Coal industry; Costs; Crash rates; Economic impacts; Fatalities; Fees; Flashers; Intersections; Recommendations; Ride quality; Trucks; Warning systems
• Uncontrolled Terms: Fund allocations; Road networks
• Geographic Terms: Kentucky
• Old TRIS Terms: Extended-weight road system; Truck pavement damage
• Subject Areas: Economics; Finance; Highways; Motor Carriers; Research; Society; I10: Economics and Administration;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00738955
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: University of Kentucky, Lexington
• Report/Paper Numbers: KTC-95-25, Final Report
• Contract Numbers: KYHPR-93-151
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jul 21 1997 12:00AM