When we spoke to some of the longtime residents about dealing with the truck traffic, we would hear that "We tried to do that before and it didn't work" or "They're going to build a bypass."  Well, best I can tell, there is no bypass actually being planned by the State or any one else for that matter.

We were always told by the State that no other town in Maryland has a truck restriction on a State road, but we found that not to be true either.  As Aileen indicated, there are at least two other Towns in the State that decided that they had enough of the trucks and passed ordinances to restrict them.

Even though the three of us are relatively new to Town, what we are asking for is not something new.  Let me quote from the some of the comments collected nearly ten years ago during the development of the Community Plan:

"Truck traffic has a negative effect on the quality of life in the Town Center"
"Heavy truck traffic speeding through town with no police enforcement"
"Truck traffic on Kidwell Ave and Happy Lady Lane"
"Tractor trailers and large trucks should be re-routed via 213 by-pas"
"Main street and surrounding buildings are affected by wear and tear from these heavy trucks - noisy, smell, unattractive, and dangerous"
"Too much commercial and heavy truck traffic on Commerce and Liberty Streets."
"The traffic. Trucks should use the highway instead of coming through town, especially if there is no need for it."
"Too much heavy truck and through traffic"
"Large tractor trailers should be rerouted."
"Heavy truck traffic on 213 and lack of enforcement of noise"
"Large, heavy truck traffic."
"Vibration from heavy trucks is destructive to buildings on Commerce and Liberty Streets"


Finally, from the Transportation chapter of the plan:

"The Town and County should aggressively negotiate with the State Highway Administration and Maryland State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division to adopt and enforce non-local, heavyduty truck restrictions on State roadways through Town. Other alternatives which should be explored for reducing truck traffic in Town include developing designated truck routes which divert through truck traffic around the Centrevi1le growth area (i.e., using an improved/extended 10hn Powell Road, Rt. 405 or Rt. 19 as a designated truck connection between Rt. 213 and U.S. 301 north of Centreville). Any proposals to redirect through truck traffic to alternative routes should be carefully examined to avoid creating adverse traffic impacts in other locations. Local truck traffic to support Town businesses and local agricultural operations should not be restricted."

We are only asking you to do something that has been needed for a long time:  
An ordinance to restrict trucks over two axles on Route 2l3, except for local deliveries.