Pilot Project For Trucks On Interstates Extended

Rockville, MD - On Dec. 14, U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee had voted to support a one-year extension of the pilot project that enables trucks in Maine and Vermont to travel those states' interstate highways at the same gross vehicle weight limits already legal on state roads. In Maine, that limit is 100,000 pounds on six-axle trucks.

Representatives of the Agriculture and Forestry Transportation Reform Coalition, AgHaul, points out that allowing interstate access avoids exposures on rural roads and in-town intersections, and that the Maine Department of Transportation's preliminary report on the pilot project's first year affirms the configuration's safety, road-wear, and efficiency benefits.

The federal funding bill, in which the provision is included, is expected to come to the Senate floor within a few days.

If it passes the Senate, the next step would be to reconcile the provision with the corresponding bill in the House of Representatives. The House bill, passed in early December, still lacks a provision to extend the pilot.

In mid-September, President Obama provided his support for making the year-old Maine/Vermont pilot project permanent, but procedural objections prevented its inclusion in a continuing resolution to extend funding for the federal government that came to a vote later than month. Since the original one-year pilot project was scheduled to end on Dec. 17, 2010, supporters of gross vehicle weight reform in the region urged expedience in extending it.

In addition to broad public support in the region, the proposal has the endorsement of the Maine Department of Public Safety, the Maine State Police, and the Maine Troopers Association.

AgHaul supports nationwide gross vehicle weight reform and will work to include a provision in the incoming Congress's Highway Reauthorization Bill that would allow any state, at its option, to allow 97,000-pound six-axle trucks on interstates within its borders, with payment of a special fee dedicated to bridge maintenance. Legislation to that effect was introduced in both the House and Senate in the 111th Congress.

Pilots Sought, Fly Dogs Home

During the week of Sept. 12-20, 2009, Pilots N Paws, which is an online forum for animal rescue groups and pilots to coordinate animal transports around the country, has set a goal to fly 5,000 dogs from high-kill shelters to new homes.

"The goal of The Pilots N Paws 5000 is to increase awareness among pilots and aircraft owners across the country of the dire need for animal transports," says Jon Wehrenberg, co-founder of Pilots N Paws. "Pilot's involvement can help to save thousands of animals from euthanasia. We are committed to increasing the number of pilots and plane owners involved in Pilots N Paws so that no request for transport goes unanswered."

If a shelter or rescue is from an area that has high rates of euthanasia, Pilots N Paws (PNP) would like that shelter or rescue to pencil in Sept. 12-20 for making an animal or multiple animals available to an animal shelter or rescue in an area where these animals can be placed in forever homes.

Rescues and fosters will need to locate their counterparts in areas of the country where high kill rates are not the rule, and have them find fosters and make space available for the animals that will be rescued.

Ideally the distance between the sending and receiving parties should be approximately 300 miles, which is an average distance for general aviation pilots.

The sending and receiving pair will then team up with a pilot volunteer who will provide the transportation during this special rescue week. The process is made easy through the use of the PNP site which is designed to bring the parties together and facilitate the making of all necessary transport arrangements.

Pilots, plane owners, animal rescues and shelters are currently being sought out to be a part of this humanitarian event in September.

Pilots N Paws is a 501c3 organization; pilot expenses relating to transports are tax deductible.

For more information the PNP Web site; or Debi Boies at pilotsnpaws@gmail.com.

Photo, Pilots N Paws rescue.