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Havre de Grace work group votes to survey downtown businesses before limiting trucks on North Washington
Summary
The Truck Traffic Work Group agreed to ask downtown business owners whether restricting through truck traffic on the 100–200 blocks of North Washington Street would impede deliveries, after members emphasized that local deliveries must still be allowed.
At a meeting of the Havre de Grace Truck Traffic Work Group, members voted to ask downtown business owners about the potential impacts of restricting through truck traffic on the 100 and 200 blocks of North Washington Street while preserving local delivery access.
The recommendation follows a downtown reconstruction that narrowed the roadway, added expanded sidewalks, brick pavers and bump-outs for vegetation and converted some parking to parallel spaces. Adam, a staff member participating in the meeting, confirmed the administration’s request: “That request from the administration, the mayor, is to not allow large trucks to go down this road,” and when asked, he said, “That’s correct.”
Work group members said the change should be structured to bar only through traffic and not prevent legally permitted local pickups or deliveries to businesses on the block. “You can’t prevent a business from getting a pickup or delivery,” a staff member advising the group said during discussion. Joe Alton described a recent delivery that was made by parking at the nearest accessible point and moving goods by hand: “Because of the construction right now, they just merely backed the truck up on Saint John and walk the delivery around.”
The group discussed practical constraints for large vehicles, including that some trucks cannot navigate alleys or narrowed blocks. Members suggested several mitigations if a restriction is recommended: identify alternate delivery points, ask businesses to coordinate preferred drop-off times (for example, morning off-peak hours), and work with frequent delivery companies to direct drivers where to park while construction continues.
Work group members also noted enforcement limits: if a truck is making a lawful delivery to a business on the route, restricting the route designation alone would not legally bar that truck from accessing the block. Several members said that outreach to businesses is necessary to determine whether they have rear access, loading docks or other ways to receive shipments and whether suggested alternatives would be workable.
A motion that the group solicit information from downtown business owners about delivery needs and alternate access was moved and seconded during the meeting and approved. The group planned to route the outreach through Bridget’s office; a participant offered to draft a letter on the group’s behalf and circulate it to members for review before it is sent.
Next steps are limited to outreach and information-gathering; the work group did not change the official truck route map at the meeting and made no binding regulatory amendments. Any formal amendment to the city truck route map would be informed by the group’s recommendation and then taken to city council for final action if appropriate.
Members adjourned after agreeing to the outreach plan and to circulate the draft letter to group members and the city’s economic development staff.
