Councillor Fodness has received a request from a a resident who lives on Highway 646 near Highway 29, to install a sign restricting the use of Jake Brakes.
Administration contacted Paula Campbell at Alberta Transportation about their policy regarding Engine Retarder Brakes. Paula advised that we can request Alberta Transportation to review/install signs, however as they are a safety feature of the vehicles, AT will only install signing in places where there is a large number of residences by the highway and no obvious safety concerns - ex: large hill where drivers may need to use them. Also, their signs do not prohibit the use of the breaks, they simply ask that truckers avoid the use of them, again for safety reasons. Alberta Transportation's recommended practices for Engine Retarder Brake Signs states that the area affected by noise must meet all of the following criteria:
- the area affected by noise has a substantial residential section;
- a record has arisen of persistent complaints from different local residents (for extended period of time, at least one year)
- considerable amount of truck traffic passes through the residential area
- area is located within a distance of 400 m from a provincial highway.
If Council feels this area meets the criteria, the next step is to submit a request to Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation and they will come out to look at the location and then decide whether or not to issue a Letter of Approval allowing for the installation of Engine Retarder Brakes signs within the highway right-of-way.