CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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An ORDINANCE related to special permits for the limited movement of vehicles carrying sealed ocean-going containers in excess of the legal weight limits; adopting a new chapter 11.61 to the Seattle Municipal Code establishing such a special permit system; authorizing the Department of Transportation to execute agreements with the Port of Seattle to accept funds; creating a Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officer position to monitor and enforce the heavy haul network and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.
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WHEREAS, import containers that are shipped by rail from the Port of Seattle can exceed weight limits allowed on state highways and local streets; and
WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle is served by two intermodal rail hubs-the Burlington Northern's Railway's SIG (Seattle International Gateway) and Union Pacific's Argo Yard-that require containers to be trucked (drayed) on local streets from the Port's marine terminals; and
WHEREAS, local transload businesses that reconsolidate container loads may also receive heavy import containers that must be trucked from the marine or rail terminals; and
WHEREAS, to address this conflict, other West Coast ports, including Los Angeles, Long Beach and Tacoma, have created heavy haul networks to move cargo over short distances at low speeds within their harbor areas on standard marine chassis; and
WHEREAS, Seattle's existing load limits put the Port of Seattle at a competitive disadvantage with other West Coast ports; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 46.44 of the Revised Code of Washington authorizes the City to issue a special permit authorizing the applicant to operate or move a vehicle or combination of vehicles of a load exceeding the maximum weight upon City streets; and
WHEREAS, a heavy haul network will create a better working environment for truck owners and shippers by enabling them to compete more effectively for cargo ...
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