Podcast: Heavier truck proposals in Congress threaten county bridges
Upcoming Events
Related News
With a road network that brings trucks carrying nearly 80,000 pounds of gravel and sand through downtown Cleburne, Texas, Johnson County roads and bridges are feeling the impact of heavy trucks on a daily basis.
Johnson County Commissioner Rick Bailey spent 35 years in the trucking industry prior to running for office, and he offers two perspectives on the issue backed by his experience, but there’s no reason to save the surprise — he doesn’t approve of proposals to increase the weight limit on trucks.
“It’s such an inconvenience to the driving public who live down these roads because now they have to find an alternate road to get home,” not to mention access for emergency responders who need access to bridges that have been taken out of commission due to safety concerns.
That wear and tear, along with a confluence of market forces and inflation, makes managing the budget for his precinct’s roads and bridges a considerable challenge.
Listen as he tells the County News Podcast all about the issues surrounding heavy truck proposals and what they would mean for county roads and bridges, many of which were designed and built when the trucking industry was much different.
Related News
House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee advances legislation to tighten oversight of states’ commercial driver’s license programs
On March 18, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure advanced Dalilah’s Law (H.R. 5688). This bill would set new rules for states regarding the issuance of commercial driver’s licenses (CDL), as well as implement other changes to trucking policy. The bill would penalize states that do not comply with new requirements by withholding certain federal transportation funds, which could affect funding to counties.
Senators introduce bill to reauthorize the Federal Lands Access Program
On Mar. 18, Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) introduced the FLAP Reauthorization Act, which would reauthorize and extend the Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP). FLAP provides essential funding for transportation projects on or adjacent to federal lands in gateway communities.
Advocacy
Latest NACo advocacy on the size and weight of heavy trucks
View the latest NACo advocacy on the size and weight of heavy trucks.
Podcast: Panache and presentation boost highlight reels of county action
Riverside County, Calif. tapped a talented communications staffer to bring to life news from their Board of Supervisors with their program Board Brief. Pep Fernandez, along with CEO Jeff Van Wagenen, explain the program's success and NACo President J.D. Clark fleshes out his County Storytellers spotlight.
Podcast: Developing your county workforce
Counties are finding a renewed interest in professional development as a feature of their careers.
Podcast: Eastern Tennessee counties invest in tourism during shutdown
Sevier County, Tenn. refused to let the government shutdown devastate its fall tourism draw—Great Smoky Mountains National Park. County Mayor Larry Waters describes the lengths he and his neighbors went to keep the park open. And NACo Chief Government Affairs Officer Mark Ritacco offers an outlook on what counties can take away from the shutdown and into the future.
Podcast: Economic mobility at work
The Lake County, Calif. Food Policy Council is helping local farmers find new markets for their produce. Lake County Supervisor Bruno Sabatier explains his county's agricultural background and his goals for the council and NACo's Alseta Gholston outlines economic mobility resources available to county officials.
Podcast: Early childhood services and counties
Boone County, Mo. Commissioner Janet Thompson describes the challenges that inadequate childhood services pose to children and families and the labor market, and how her county is working provide more options for county employees.
Podcast: County experience can improve disaster response
Kevin Leonard, executive director of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, and Amanda McKinney, a Yakima County, Wash. commissioner, talk about two different challenges county officials face in responding to disasters.
Podcast: Counties fight social isolation
As awareness of social isolation spreads, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Loudoun County, Va. Chair Phyllis Randall discuss the role of government in combatting the problem.
Podcast: NACo at 90 preview
NACo Executive Director Matt Chase interviews County News Podcast Host Charlie Ban about a new book chronicling NACo’s first 90 years.
Podcast: Life after coal for one county
Commissioner Melody Villard and Economic Recovery Corps Fellow Sasha Nelson discuss the transition Moffat County, Colo. planned to diversify its economy after the closure of coal mines and a power plant decimated its property tax revenue.
Podcast: The CIO Reserves
Greenbrier County, W.Va. Commissioner Tammy Tincher, Cook County, Ill. CIO Tom Lynch and NACo CIO Rita Reynolds discuss the pilot CIO Reserves program, which offers IT experts to help rural counties assess their technology and cybersecurity needs.
Podcast: Artificial intelligence and county government
Shinica Thomas, a Wake County, N.C. commissioner and a member of NACo's AI Exploratory Committee, talks about her process for learning about artificial intelligence, its limits and challenges and some applications for use in county government.
Podcast: Counties find homes in the midst of a housing crunch
Allegheny County, Pa. Director of Housing Strategies Ed Nusser introduces the 500 in 500 initiative for moving people out of shelters and NACo’s Mike Matthews discusses the county role in developing housing affordability.
Podcast: Challenges mount for counties facing disasters
Clay County, Iowa Supervisor Barry Anderson joins the County News Podcast to describe the compounding effects from a generational flood his county seat faced in June.
Podcast: James Gore on getting stuff done
NACo President James Gore joins the County News Podcast to talk about what brought him to county government, the challenges Sonoma County, Calif. has faced while he has been a member of the Board of Supervisors and and how he views county government.
Podcast: Mental health and the criminal justice system
Miami-Dade County, Fla. Administrative Judge Steve Leifman joined the County News Podcast to outline systems that can be put in place in counties across the country.
Podcast: ForwardTogether during National County Government Month
NACo President Mary Jo McGuire spoke to the County News Podcast about National County Government Month seen through the prism of her presidential theme: ForwardTogether — connect, inspire and lead.
Podcast: Making intergovernmental connections at NACo's Federal Agency Expo
A handful of county officials and a federal exhibitor talked on the County News Podcast about the connections they hoped to make and what they hoped to learn during the Federal Agency Expo at the NACo Legislative Conference.
Podcast: Election officials talk shop
The hosts of High Turnout, Wide Margins join NACo's inaugural podcast to discuss how they manage elections in Boone and St. Louis counties in Missouri, what elected officials should know about election administration and more.