Project 7.4
CVO Regional Permitting – Phase 4

North/West Passage has completed three phases of regional permitting efforts.

• Phase 1 looked at the desirability of establishing some regional permitting process that would allow truckers moving overweight or oversized loads across the region to apply for and receive permits from one source. The conclusion of Phase 1 was that too much opposition existed from states along the corridor to make such a regional process work. However, conversations with industry representative suggested that harmonization of the rules governing permits might offer greater benefit.
• Phase 2 focused on moving recommendations from Phase 1 forward and looked at harmonization, communications and systems. The result was a set of draft standards for lighting, signing, hours of operation, and information required; suggestions on how to make web communication more uniform and useful; and a conceptual view of what an XML regional system might entail.
• Phase 3 continued the conversation among the states on issues like harmonization; attempted to establish a regional dialog with the trucking industry; looked at weight rules and reasons for lack of harmony; and involved more senior managers in the processes.

At the completion of Phase 3 a Freight Task Force (Project 8.3) was approved in North/West Passage Work Plan 8 to continue freight related activities and projects. The Steering Committee recommended and approved that the funds from Project 7.4 would be used to fund Project 8.3. The recommendations from the three regional permitting efforts will be reviewed by the Freight Task Force for consideration to continue to move efforts from the project team forward.