Chapter 10.72
TRUCK ROUTES
Sections:
10.72.030 Imposing additional restrictions.
10.72.040 Emergency load and road restrictions.
10.72.050 Street use permit authorized.
10.72.060 Weight limits established.
10.72.070 Overweight permit required.
10.72.080 Construction and commercial trucks and commercial combinations prohibited.
10.72.090 Overweight vehicles prohibited – Exemptions.
10.72.110 Truck route designated.
10.72.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter shall be to protect and preserve the existing and future streets within the corporate limits of the city of Granite Falls by establishing weight limits and regulating construction and commercial truck through hauling on city streets. [Ord. 873 § 1, 2014.]
10.72.020 Definitions.
“City street use permit” shall mean that permit issued by the city’s designated official pursuant to GFMC 10.72.050 and 10.72.070 authorizing certain through hauling that exceeds the load limitation specified by this chapter.
“City streets” shall mean every public street, road, alley and right-of-way or part thereof, maintained by the city, lying inside the limits of Granite Falls.
“City’s designated official” is defined as the member of the city’s administrative staff authorized by the city manager to issue use permits or declare emergency road conditions.
“Commercial combination” shall mean any combination consisting of a truck and trailer, tractor and trailer, combination of three vehicles, or consisting of a tractor and stinger-steered semi-trailer combination.
“Construction and commercial truck” shall mean any three-or-greater-axle vehicle, any dual-axle tandem, dual rear tire vehicle, or vehicle with a manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight rating greater than 26,000 (GVW).
“Local delivery” shall mean construction or commercial truck or commercial combination pickup or delivery within the residential and commercial area or along residential or collector streets of the city. Local delivery includes, but is not limited to, moving vans, retail delivery trucks, trucks delivering goods or services within the commercial or business district, and private residential services such as lawn care services, construction and landscaping material delivery, and home improvement services. Local delivery shall not include stops for goods or services that are not the primary cargo of the construction or commercial truck or combination.
“Overweight permit” shall mean the permit issued by the city’s designated official pursuant to GFMC 10.72.070 authorizing travel on city streets by overweight trucks belonging to local businesses that are not making local deliveries.
“Through hauling” shall mean vehicle travel through an area without planned stops for the delivery, receiving or exchange of goods, materials or equipment.
“Weight limit” shall mean the total vehicle weight limitation allowed on residential and collector streets as defined in this chapter. [Ord. 904 § 18, 2015; Ord. 873 § 1, 2014.]
10.72.030 Imposing additional restrictions.
Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the city from imposing additional weight or fixing load limits, and/or travel restrictions through the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review process or other city permits. In fixing such load limits, weather conditions, traffic, type and quality of street surfacing, ballast, and dimensions shall be taken into consideration. Such load limit or restrictions shall become effective upon the posting of signs and no person shall disobey the restrictions stated on such signs. [Ord. 873 § 1, 2014.]
10.72.040 Emergency load and road restrictions.
Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the city’s designated official from declaring an emergency and invoking road restrictions, deemed necessary by road and/or weather conditions, which would or would be likely to damage streets, roads, alleys, or highways, if emergency road weight limits, speed limits, and/or vehicle restrictions were not immediately placed upon such roadways, streets, alleys, or highways. Such load limit or restrictions shall become effective upon the posting of signs and no person shall disobey the restrictions stated on such signs. [Ord. 873 § 1, 2014.]
10.72.050 Street use permit authorized.
The city’s designated official is authorized to issue a temporary permit for nonexempted travel based on a finding that the public purpose is served by doing so. An overweight permit will be required for the street use. There shall be an annual fee in the sum of $75.00 imposed to cover the cost of administering the permit. All permit fees received shall be directed to the city of Granite Falls street construction fund. [Ord. 873 § 1, 2014.]
10.72.060 Weight limits established.
The weight limits for all city streets within the city shall be 26,000 pounds save and except for those streets specifically designated in GFMC 10.72.110 as a truck route. The vehicle weight shall be determined by the actual gross vehicle weight (GVW). [Ord. 873 § 1, 2014.]
10.72.070 Overweight permit required.
The city’s designated official is authorized to issue an overweight permit to trucks belonging to local businesses that exceed the weight limitations herein. Such “local business” means a company whose principal place of business is within the city limits of Granite Falls, or has a terminal/facility within the city limits of Granite Falls. The overweight permit will be issued based on criteria including, but not limited to, the following:
(A) The truck must travel along the designated route represented to the city’s designated official by the local business; and
(B) The truck will be limited to a specific number of round trips on a designated route per day, the excess in pounds over the legal limit must be stated; and
(C) The vehicle identification number, license plate number, current insurance certificate, current annual inspection certificate if required, current tonnage certificate and any updates if tonnage is purchased monthly and a copy of the valid registration must be provided; and
(D) The permit must be kept in the truck at all times; and
(E) The decal issued must be displayed prominently on the driver’s side of the windshield where it can be easily seen by enforcement personnel; and
(F) Any route must be approved by the city’s designated official before use. The city’s designated official shall take into account traffic flow, safety, and any other applicable factors when determining if the permit is to be issued. Whenever possible the route shall make use of the stated designated truck route. There shall be an annual fee imposed, in the sum of $75.00, to cover the cost of administering the permit. The city’s designated official is authorized to terminate permits issued under this section for failure to comply with the criteria herein. All permit fees received shall be directed to the city of Granite Falls street construction fund. [Ord. 873 § 1, 2014.]
10.72.080 Construction and commercial trucks and commercial combinations prohibited.
Subject to the exemptions under GFMC 10.72.050 and 10.72.070, no construction and commercial trucks or any commercial combination shall be operated on any city street. [Ord. 873 § 1, 2014.]
10.72.090 Overweight vehicles prohibited – Exemptions.
The following vehicle types and usage are exempt from the weight limits established in this chapter:
(A) Public transportation and school buses; and
(B) Public and private emergency vehicles; and
(C) Local delivery as defined under GFMC 10.72.020; provided, that said delivery shall only use city streets for the minimum distance necessary; and
(D) Public utility companies and associated contracted services; provided, that the termination for the trip is within the city limits; and
(E) Including, but not limited to, contract services, waste collection, and public and private mail service. [Ord. 873 § 1, 2014.]
10.72.100 Notice.
(A) The city’s designated official shall cause to be erected signs designating the provisions of this chapter at each entry into the city or as applicable, subject to the weight limits established by this chapter, as now or hereafter amended.
(B) The city’s designated official shall cause to be published in one issue of a newspaper of general circulation within the city, the weight limits established by this chapter, the notice required by RCW 46.44.080, as now or hereafter amended. [Ord. 873 § 1, 2014.]
10.72.110 Truck route designated.
The following streets or routes are hereby designated as truck routes in the city of Granite Falls:
(A) Quarry Road (aka Granite Falls Alternate Route);
(B) Mt. Loop Highway;
(C) Gun Club Road;
(D) Wayside Mine Road;
(E) Alder Avenue;
(F) Jordan Road, north of the Quarry Road, Jordan Road, Engebretson Road roundabout;
(G) Pioneer Street and Menzel Lake Road (east of Granite Avenue);
(H) Granite Avenue and Robe Menzel Road (south of Pioneer Street). [Ord. 873 § 1, 2014.]
10.72.120 Penalty.
Operation on city streets of vehicles that are over 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight (GVW) and which are not exempted by GFMC 10.72.050, Street use permit authorized, 10.72.070, Overweight permit required, or 10.72.090, Overweight vehicles prohibited – Exemptions, or any other violation of any provision of this chapter shall be an infraction and subject to the penalty set forth in RCW 46.44.105, as hereby adopted and incorporated by this reference. [Ord. 873 § 1, 2014.]
10.72.130 Amendments.
All amendments to the statutes of the state of Washington incorporated by reference in the preceding sections, whether now in force or hereafter adopted, are hereby incorporated by this reference, and shall be deemed to be a part of this chapter. [Ord. 873 § 1, 2014.]