The City has received several citizen complaints regarding large trucks, specifically 18-wheelers, traveling on 14th Street, which is predominantly a residential area.
The current city ordinance signs are posted at various points on 14th St, prohibiting trucks over 7,000 pounds empty weight. There is one sign at the intersection of FM 2376 and Stephen F. Austin, warning of a load zoned street approaching, and a second sign is located at 14th and Asbury, designating the start of the load zoned roadway. The load zoned road continues along 14th/15th Streets across Coggin Avenue to Highway 377.
The city ordinance currently restricts a driver “leaving, parking or standing” on certain roadways a vehicle with a rated capacity in excess of one ton. There is no reference in this ordinance restricting large trucks from traveling on a roadway.
The city ordinance references ‘in excess of’ one ton while the posted street sign references over 7,000 pounds empty weight. For comparison, one-ton equals 2,000 pounds and vehicles reaching 7000lbs empty weight would include large ‘dually’ style pickups, motor homes, and delivery trucks such as FedEx, UPS.
To resolve the concern of large trucks traveling on 14th St. and the uncertainty of such a vehicles weight and to address the vague city ordinance reference, the City has the option to amend the city ordinance to place a restriction on the number of axles able to utilize the roadway and add the word ‘traveling’ to the list of restricted actions.
Brownwood Police Chief Ed Kading suggested an ordinance restricting vehicles based on the number of axles from using the roadway, with exceptions for certain delivery trucks.
Future action is expected on the issue.