Town Of Dedham Heavy Commercial Vehicle Exclusions - FAQs

Press release from the Town of Dedham:

April 6, 2021

DEDHAM, MASS. - The Heavy Commercial Vehicle Exclusion (HVCE) subcommittee, formed at the request of the Select Board, have developed a detailed list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and a library of maps and resources to help further explain what the HCVE is and how it applies to local roads here in Dedham, Mass. The HCVE subcommittee consisted of the Town Engineer, Director of Public Works, Police Chief, a member of the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) and a member of the Select Board.

"The FAQs give basic information and also dive deeper into the details. Town Counsel helped provide the legal language that we made more palatable and easier for everyone to understand", said Town Engineer Jason Mammone.

Otherwise referred to as a "truck ban", the HCVE classifies the types of vehicles and trucks, and outlines where commercial vehicles are not permitted to drive if an exclusion is applied. In addition to identifying where exclusions exist or may be applied, the FAQs also provide examples of real-life scenarios that are commonly reported to the Town. For example, a commercial vehicle may be permitted to travel on a road with an exclusion if the driver is making a delivery on that road.

The goals of the FAQs and for providing these additional documents are to inform residents of the HCVE and to help explain the process behind the development of exclusions.

"The FAQs and the website will be updated when new questions arise and when new information is available to keep everyone informed and up-to-date", said Mammone.

Also included on this webpage is the process for requesting a study of a residential/local roadway and the requirements that must be met to become eligible for a potential HCVE. The TAC will now perform HVCE reviews, on behalf of the Select Board as the Road Commissioners and present the recommendations to the Select Board developed from the study. As a result of this updated process, the Traffic Calming Policy has also been updated to reflect this change and to help restrict heavy commercial vehicles to the roadways designed for that class vehicle.

Visit the new Heavy Commercial Vehicle Exclusion webpage and contact the Town Engineer with additional questions not listed within the FAQs.

Contact Info:

Jason Mammone, Town Engineer

This press release was produced by the Town of Dedham. The views expressed here are the author’s own.