Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board adopts Traffic Order 438, establishes 7‑ton load limits on 18 county roads
Summary
After a staff presentation and questions, the board adopted Traffic Order 438 setting a 7‑ton commercial truck limit on 18 county roads (ag exemptions apply) to reduce pavement damage and safety risks; staff said signage will be ordered and CHP will assist enforcement.
The Solano County Board of Supervisors voted 4‑0 on March 10 to adopt Traffic Order 438, establishing a 7‑ton load limit for commercial trucks on 18 county roads identified by staff.
James Music, director of Resource Management, and Matt Tuggle, assistant director, presented the item. Tuggle said engineering reviews, pavement condition surveys and accident data showed many local roads are narrow or lack structural sections needed for heavy truck traffic. "Heavy trucking on a road can turn it over in a year or two," Tuggle said, describing accelerated rutting and cracking on frequently used shortcut routes.
Staff identified several contributing factors, including new distribution centers and aggregate hauling routes that have pushed trucks off state highways onto county roads. The list targets routes where pavement damage and safety concerns were most concentrated — examples cited included portions of Lake Herman Road, Seavers Road and several narrow local roads in the North County and Leisure Town area.
Tuggle said agricultural trucks and trucks with a legitimate delivery manifest will be exempt; "On every load limit sign we're gonna have AG trucks exempt," he said. Staff also said they completed required public noticing and solicited CHP input, and that CHP will assist with enforcement once signs are installed.
The board asked staff about signage timing, outreach to businesses and truck scales, and road maintenance plans for agricultural routes. Staff estimated ordering and installing signs would take roughly one to two months; they said the traffic order is enforceable once signed but enforcement ramp‑up and signage will follow.
The board moved, seconded and approved the resolution adopting Traffic Order 438 (recorded 4‑0). The order takes effect upon signature; staff will oversee sign procurement, outreach to key stakeholders and routine pavement maintenance to mitigate damage on exempted ag routes.
