Salinas Municipal Code § 20-161 Purpose

The following words and phrases shall have the meanings set forth, and if any word or phrase used in this article is not defined in this section, it shall have the meanings set forth in the California Vehicle Code; provided, that if any such word or phrase is not defined in the vehicle code, it shall have the meaning attributed to it in ordinary usage.

(a) "Terminal" means a facility at which freight is consolidated to be shipped or where full load consignment may be loaded and off loaded or at which the vehicle combinations are maintained, stored or manufactured.

(b) "Super truck" means a truck tractor and semi-trailer or truck tractor, semi-trailer and trailer with unlimited length as regulated by the vehicle code.

(c) "Transportation engineer" means the transportation engineer of the city or his authorized representative.

(d) "Caltrans" means the state of California Department of Transportation or its successor agency.

(Ord. No. 1914 (NCS), § 1; Ord. No. 1943 (NCS), § 1; Ord. No. 2025 (NCS), § 1(B), (C).)

The purpose of this article is to establish procedures for terminal designation and truck route designation to terminals for super trucks operating on a federally designated highway system and to promote the general health, safety and welfare of the public.

(Ord. No. 1914 (NCS), § 1; Ord. No. 2025 (NCS), § 1(D).)

(a) Any interested person requiring terminal access for super trucks from the federally designated system shall submit an application, on a form as provided by the city, together with such information as may be required by the transportation engineer.

(b) Upon receipt of the application, the transportation engineer will cause an investigation to be made to ascertain whether or not the proposed terminal facility meets the requirements for a super truck terminal. Upon his approval of that designation, he will then determine the capability of the route requested and alternate routes, whether requested or not. Determination of route capability will include, without limitation, a review of adequate turning radius and lane widths of ramps, intersections and highways and general traffic conditions such as sight distance, speed and traffic volumes. No access off a federally designated highway system will be approved without the approval of Caltrans. The transportation engineer shall complete his investigation and shall notify the applicant, in writing, of the results of his investigation within five working days, excluding the date of receipt of the application.

(c) Should the requested route pass through the City of Salinas to a terminal located in another jurisdiction, the applicant shall comply with that jurisdictions application process. Coordination of the approval of the route through the city will be the responsibility of the entity which controls the terminal's land use. Costs for trailblazer signs shall be as provided in Section 20-163(b).

(Ord. No. 1914 (NCS), § 1; Ord. No. 2025 (NCS), § 1(E), (F).)

The transportation engineer may revoke any approved terminal or route if the terminal or route becomes a traffic hazard for vehicular traffic. A safety hazard includes the inability of interstate trucks to negotiate the route or said vehicles causing unsafe driving conditions for other vehicular traffic or pedestrians.

(Ord. No. 1914 (NCS), § 1; Ord. No. 2025 (NCS), § 1(H).)

(a) If the transportation engineer denies terminal designation, route feasibility or revokes a previously approved terminal or route, the applicant/terminal owner, within ten days following the date of receipt of the decision of the transportation engineer may appeal said decision to the city council in writing. An appeal shall be made on a form prescribed by the department of public works and shall be filed with the city clerk. The appeal shall state specifically wherein there was an error or abuse of discretion by the transportation engineer or wherein its decision is not supported by the evidence in the record. Within five days of the filing of an appeal, the transportation engineer shall transmit to the city clerk the terminal application, the sketches of the revoked route and all other data filed therewith, the report of the transportation engineer, the findings of the transportation engineer and his decision on the application.

(b) The city clerk shall make copies of the data provided by the transportation engineer available to the applicant and to the appellant (if the applicant is not the appellant) for inspection and may give notice to any other interested party who requested notice of the time when the appeal will be considered by the city council.

(c) If Caltrans and not the transportation engineer denies or revokes terminal access from federally designated highways, no appeal may be made to the city council, but must be made to Caltrans as may be permitted by Caltrans.

(Ord. No. 1914 (NCS), § 1; Ord. No. 2025 (NCS), § 1(I).)

(a) Whenever the council, by ordinance or resolution, determines those streets or portions of streets thereof prohibiting the operation of a truck with a kingpin setting in excess of thirty-eight feet and up to and including forty feet with an overall length of up to sixty-five feet, the city transportation engineer shall designate such streets or portions thereof by appropriate signs.

(b) Whenever the council, by ordinance or resolution, determines those streets or portions of streets thereof permitting the operation of a truck with a kingpin setting in excess of forty feet or an overall length greater than sixty-five feet, the city transportation engineer shall designate such streets or portions thereof by appropriate signs.

(c) When appropriate signs are in place giving notice thereof, no person shall operate any truck contrary to the posted regulation on any such streets or portions thereof.

(Ord. No. 2025 (NCS), § 1 (J).)