NBA Annual Spring Survey

The NBA’s annual spring survey was  included with the invoices for membership for 2010-2011. Your input is appreciated and helps the Nisku Business Association determine direction and priorities.

The Transportation Action Committee:
Axle Weights/Overdimensional loads & 
Movement of Goods in Nisku Industrial Park

The Transportation Action Committee was formed to deal with transportation issues that arose within Leduc County. Issues of vital importance to Nisku businesses concerning movement of goods within Nisku Park have been the focal point of interest for the NBA within this matter.

Following is a brief update of the Transportation Action committee’s progress to date. The committee continues to work on a Transportation protocol that will meet the needs of Nisku Industrial Park.

(1) A Memorandum of Understanding outlining an agreement in principle between Alberta Transportation and Leduc County with respect to overweight and overdimensional travel within the confines of Nisku Industrial Park, has been achieved; please see the Memorandum of Understanding in its entirety below.

(2) A Vehicle Weights Impact Assessment and Recommendations Report, recommending a 25% axle tolerance on selected routes within Nisku Industrial Park, has been presented and accepted by County Council as an interim solution. See www.leduc-county.com (Council; council meetings; November 4th) for detailed information. The complete Leduc County Nisku Industrial Park Pilot Project - Vehicle Weights Impact Assessment and Recommendations Report is presented below for your information and reference.

(3) Attention will now focus on the formation of a Standing Committee to determine specific regulations.

In addition, as a result of the efforts of the Committee a Road Research Facility for Alberta, which will facilitate testing of the road structure under various loading conditions, is going to be located in Nisku. The Transportation Action Committee is currently working on identifying a suitable location for the test track in the Park. Electronic testing equipment for the facility, which will be coming from Norway, has already been ordered.

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Memorandum of Understanding

1. The purpose of this memorandum of understanding is to outline an agreement in principle between Alberta Transportation and Leduc County with respect to overweight and overdimensional travel within the confines of the Nisku Industrial Park.

2. Alberta Transportation agrees to overweight/overdimensional permits to travel within the Nisku Industrial Park at weights exceeding the seasonal allowable weights set out in policy. The allowable weights are to be approved by both parties to the agreement.

3. Unless specifically noted in the permit document, the provincial permit does not exempt the carrier from any of the general conditions to a special permit as per Part 4 of ALBERTA REGULATION 315/2002 - Commercial Vehicle Dimension and Weight Regulation.

4. The provincial permit will require that the carrier obtain the permission of Leduc County prior to traveling and adhere to any additional conditions that may be required by the County.

5. Any overweight/overdimensional travel on highways under Provincial jurisdiction, including Hwy 625 within the area of the Nisku Industrial Park, is not covered by this agreement and must follow existing Provincial policies and must operate under a separate permit.

6. Leduc County agrees to monitor travel within the Nisku Industrial Park to ensure that carriers follow all of the requirements under ALBERTA REGULATION 315/2002 - Commercial Vehicle Dimension and Weight Regulation as well as the conditions of any provincial permit. 

7. Leduc County assumes full responsibility for any and all infrastructure damage that may occur as a result of travel covered by permits issued by the Province under this agreement.

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Leduc County Nisku Industrial Park Pilot Project (Vehicle Weights Impact Assessment and Recommendations)

1. Executive Summary 
Alberta Transportation, Transportation Safety Services, Transport Engineering made a proposal to allow Leduc County to carry out a pilot project within the Nisku Industrial Park that would allow them to set overall maximum vehicle weights and dimensions. This authority would allow the County to permit licensed vehicles and self-propelled equipment to move from one location to another within the Nisku Business Park. Many of these self-propelled vehicles and work platforms are not licensed for operation on roadways, and exceed the maximum weight restrictions imposed by the Minister. 

Under the pilot project, Leduc County will have the authority to authorize vehicles and equipment to operate on municipal roads and authorize such equipment to exceed the maximum weight and dimension restrictions established by provincial guidelines.

This authority is limited to the roads located within Nisku Industrial Park and does not include the provincial highways. The permits would allow vehicles to cross the highway but would not allow for travel along the provincial highway. 

A Leduc County standing committee would be required to administer the program that establishes and communicates to the members of the Nisku Industrial Park, as set of conditions for the safe movement of goods and materials that are uneconomical to transport at legal weighs and dimensions. 

A Road Use Agreement will be required to address the issue of liability, indemnification, insurance, access to roads, and the time periods of operation, etc. This agreement could be used to assign a pro rata share of the cost of maintenance to the operator in exchange for the authority to operate equipment with the potential to cause extraordinary damage to the road. 

:Leduc County will need to address a number of technical and safety issues to control and regulate the weight and dimensions for many of the self-propelled vehicles and work platforms. 

The time frame to collect and process the technical data will take several months. However an interim solution would be to:
-exempt self-propelled and fixed equipment,
-exempt mobile cranes, and 
-allow licensed vehicles to exceed allowable seasonal axle weights by 25% on selected routes within the Nisku Industrial Park. 

These exemptions and limits would expire once the policies and road user agreements are implemented.

2. Introduction
The Leduc County Public Works Committee requested that an "Action Committee" review transportation guidelines across Leduc County. The Action Committee consists of three members selected by the Nisku Business Association and three members selected by the County Council from the community at large. 

The purpose of the Action Committee is to determine what the requirements of the transportation industry are to move goods/equipment across the County, plus to recognize the need to protect the road infrastructure and ensure road safety.

The Action Committee would bring in additional resource people as required to deal with technical, legal, enforcement and safety issues. 

The Nisku business community has requested that the Action Committee exempt self-propelled equipment from current road restrictions when travelling within the Nisku Industrial Park.

The Province of Alberta governs the transportation of goods and equipment and is responsible for the current vehicle weights and dimensions that are allowed to travel on provincial roadways. The roads within Nisku Industrial Park are controlled and managed by the County of Leduc and the County has established a permit system whereby commercial vehicles can request authority to exceed allowable maximum weights established for these roads. However this authority is limited by the overall maximums established under Alberta Regulation 315/2002.

3. Pilot Project - Background
Alberta Transportation, Transportation Safety Services, Transport Engineering made a proposal to allow Leduc County to carry out a pilot project within the Nisku Industrial Park that would allow them to set overall maximum vehicle weights and dimensions. This authority would allow the County to permit licensed vehicles and self-propelled equipment to move from one location to another within the Nisku Business Park. Many of these self-propelled vehicles and work platforms are not licensed for operation on roadways, and exceed the maximum weight restrictions imposed by the Minister. 

The rationale for allowing vehicles to exceed the current legal limits is based on the belief that in some instances configuring equipment to meet highway standards creates a danger to the motoring public, in addition to being costly and inefficient in providing services to other businesses within the park. Industry also believes that despite
the size and the weight of these vehicles their impact on roads is no more damaging than that of authorized loads.

Example #1:
The requirement to use a jeep and booster to move a load legally within the park is very costly and time consuming if space is limited in some yards. In some cases, a road closure is required to load the unit and add the jeep and /or booster unites. The overall length and poor turning capabilities of these units will result in damage to intersections that are not designed for loads with these dimensions.

Example #2:
Unlicensed cranes, loaders, and trailers being pulled by forklifts are considered fixed equipment. However, the Pounds per Square Inch (P.S.I) loading for the non-licensed equipment is similar to a legally loaded 18-wheeler.

Example #3:
Licensed Mobile Cranes can be configured for highway standards by having the boom in a trailing dolly or trailer. In this configuration, the boom will swing out into the adjourning lanes when making tight 90-degree turns.

It is recognized that a review is required to classify and categorize equipment being considered for use within the Nisku Industrial Park. In some cases, modification to the equipment or transportation procedures may be required to protect the infrastructure from damage and ensure public safety. 

4. Pilot Project - General
Under the pilot project, Leduc County will have the authority to authorize self-propelled equipment to operate on municipal roads and authorize licensed vehicles to exceed the maximum weight and dimension restrictions established by provincial regulations. 

This authority is limited to the roads located within Nisku Industrial Park and does not include the provincial highways. The permits would allow vehicles to cross the highway but would not allow for travel along the provincial highways.  

Leduc County will need to address a number of technical and safety issues to control and regulate the weight and dimensions for many of the self-propelled vehicles and work platforms.

4.1. Technical Issues
For any given pavement the axle load, axle configuration, suspension type, and tire inflation pressure will affect the magnitude and distribution of stresses, strains, and displacements in its structure.

Technical information on the various types of equipment that are being considered for this project must be collected and evaluated to determine the types of loadings and the impact they will have on the existing infrastructure. 

4.2. Review of Existing Nisku Industrial Park Infrastructure
Technical infrastructure issues to be reviewed and evaluated include but are not limited to:
-Road widths
-Turning radius
-Water lines and stems 
-Sewer lines, man hole barrels and covers
-Surface types
-Pavement structure

Classifying the existing infrastructures is required to identify sections with similar properties and characteristics.

4.3. Future Roadway Standards
Standards and specifications to be addressed include but are not limited to:
-Geometric Standards
-Pavement Structure Standards
-Appurtenance Standards
-Utility Standards
-Maintenance Standards
-Road ban Standards

4.4. Vehicle Standards
Based on the above reviews it may be necessary to set limitations on various vehicle classifications such as:
-Limit or restrict speed
-Limit or restrict width and length
-Limit or restrict the maximum gross weight that may be borne by a tire, an axle or an axle group, or any of them, or the maximum gross weight that may be borne by a vehicle or combination of vehicles.

4.5. New Technologies
New technologies such as Variable Tire Pressure (VTP) and Central Tire Inflation (CTI) systems to minimize distress on pavements should be evaluated to determine cost benefits to the operators. The truck speed is set relative to the tire pressure and load, to prevent damage.

4.6. Research and Development
Both industry and the Province have expressed an interest in a public, private partnership research project on vehicle weights and dimensions. A test site constructed within the park could be used to analysis vehicle weights and the influence equipment modifications and new technologies would have in minimizing the damage to the infrastructure.

5. Safety Issues

5.1. Safe Work Practice/Procedures and Traffic Accommodation Strategy
Establish safe work practice and procedures for each vehicle class and category to ensure that operators are aware and comply with the required safety requirements and transportation procedures. Establish traffic accommodation strategies to ensure safety of teh traveling public.

6. Action Plan
1. Establish a standing committee to administer the program that establishes and communicates to the members of the Nisku Industrial Park, a set of conditions for the safe movement of goods and materials that are uneconomical to transport at legal weights and dimensions.

2. Develop and define the roles and responsibilities of the standing committee.

3. Identify and classify equipment and equipment groups.

4. Establish maximum loads and weights (To minimize damage to roadway infrastructure)
     a) Maximum single tire weights (tire size and capacity)
     b) Maximum single axle weights based on tire size
     c) Tire-ground contact pressure
     d) Spacing of the loaded tires

5. Establish maximum widths, length and heights.

6. Submit to Alberta Transportation for review and approval.

7. Determine limitations of infrastructure (Geometrics, FWD testing, services)

8. Identify routes for various equipment groups and limits. 
     a) Based on weight limitations
     b) Based on geometric limitations

9. Identify improvements to existing infrastructure for increased loads

10. Establish a monitoring program (Weights, Maintenance Activities, FWD, etc.)
     a) operators with scales to monitor and control overload targets
     b) distress to roadway infrastructure

11. Review existing and emerging technologies for monitoring roadways and reducing tire/axle loads

12. Establish Safe Work Practices and Procedures

13. Establish operating standards to limit the interaction between equipment subject to the permit and the public. 

14. Develop standard traffic accommodation strategies based on hazard assessments
     a) Safety of traveling public
     b) Safety of operators
     c) To minimize inconvenience to traveling public

15. Develop Road Use Agreement. The Road Use Agreement would address the issue of liability, indemnification, insurance, access to roads, and the time periods of operation, etc. This agreement could be used to assign a pro rata share of the cost of maintenance to the operator in exchange for the authority to operate equipment with the potential to cause extraordinary damage to the road. 

16. Develop a method for dealing with operators that contravene the conditions of the agreement. (Fines, Demerits, withdrawal of permit, etc.) 

17. Amend Overweight Vehicles Bylaw 15-87.

7. Summary and Recommendations
Under the pilot project proposed by Alberta Transportation, Leduc County has the authority to issue permits within Nisku Industrial Park to vehicles whose weight exceeds the provincial maximums.

The Action Committee on Transportation Guidelines supports the Pilot Project and the following recommendations.

1. Amend and update its existing Overweight Vehicles Bylaw and the authority and responsibility of the Road Users Standing Committee.

2. The Road Users Standing Committee will develop and implement standards and procedures for Nisku Industrial Park Road Users.

3. Under a Road User Agreement, the road users will assume the risks of liability with respect to damaged municipal infrastructure, or injury to the motoring public.

4. Obtain technical information with respect to the equipment and properties of the existing infrastructure. An information package and questionnaire should be distributed by the Nisku Business Association requesting technical information for the various types and classes of equipment being used within the Park.

5. Establish a monitoring and review process that will provide periodic report to Leduc County Council.

8. Interim Recommendation
The time frame to collect and process the technical data will take several months. However an interim solution would be to: 

-exempt self-propelled and fixed equipment, 
-exempt mobile cranes, and
-allow licensed vehicles to exceed allowable seasonal axle weights by 25% on selected routes within the Nisku Industrial Park.

These exemptions and limits would (will) expire once the policies and road user agreements are implemented.

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Board Meetings