Why can’t IDOT prohibit trucks along roads or reduce speed limits? Won’t that reduce noise levels?
Both of these options may reduce noise levels; however, several factors must be considered. If the road is a main route into and out of a city, or if there are commercial and industrial businesses along the route, a prohibition of trucks would have adverse economic impacts. Also, truck traffic cannot be prohibited on state marked routes. Lowering the speed limits may slightly reduce traffic noise levels, but the speed reduction would lower the capacity of the roadway, thereby increasing delays, air pollutant emissions, and the overall cost of transporting goods and services. Speed limits are determined by the roadway design and speed studies.
