(A) The City of St. Johns, pursuant to Section 726 of the Michigan Vehicle Code, and in an effort to limit truck traffic in residential areas, and in the interest of public safety, deems it advisable to restrict truck traffic within city limits to the maximum extent possible to the state highway system or to authorized truck routes.
(B) Authorized truck routes. The City Commission conclusively determines and ordains that truck traffic, except for local deliveries, shall be restricted to the following streets:
(1) US-127 Business Route from the south city limit to the north city limit.
(2) State Street (M-21) from the west city limit to the east city limit.
(3) All streets and roadways within and bounding the St. John's Industrial Park, to include future street and road construction.
(4) Walker Road from US-127 BR to the eastern pavements terminus.
(5) Zeeb Drive from US-127 BR to Tolles Drive.
(6) Kuntz Street.
(C) Local truck traffic.
(1) For truck traffic and/or truck deliveries in the downtown business district and industrial/commercial areas located within the city, trucks shall use Lansing Street (from Walker Road to M-21), Gibbs Street (only between Lansing Street and US-127 BR), Railroad Street, Brush Street, Spring Street, Mead Street (only between Railroad and Lincoln Streets), Lincoln Street (only between Mead and Swegles Streets), Swegles Street (only between Lincoln and Gibbs Streets and between Railroad and Higham Streets), Higham Street (only between Swegles and US-127 BR and between Spring and Oakland streets), Kibbee Street (only between Railroad Street and M-21), Steel Street (only between US127 BR and Traver Street), Traver Street (only between Franklin and Steel Streets), and Oakland Street (between Railroad and Higham streets).
(2) The City Commission further directs the installation of signs restricting truck traffic at designated major routes entering the city to the extent permitted by state law.
(D) Other truck deliveries/travel. It shall be unlawful to drive any truck on any street other than those designated above, except for the purpose of making a delivery or in connection with providing a service to city residents or businesses outside the business/industrial districts. Vehicles making deliveries governed by this section shall use the shortest and/or most direct route between the authorized truck route and the destination location. This section shall be applied in a way so as to afford truck drivers some discretion in determining a logical route to and from delivery destinations.
(E) For the purposes of this section the following definition shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
TRUCK.
Any road vehicle utilizing three or more axles.
(F) Truck traffic penalties. A person who violates a prohibition, limitation, or truck route designation established pursuant to this section is responsible for a civil infraction and will be cited under the provisions of Chapter 36 of this code.
(G) Seasonal weight limitations.
(1) During the spring thaw trucks traveling on any St. Johns roadways, except those described in division (B), above, must comply with seasonal weight restrictions. Any truck, as defined in division (E), must reduce its maximum load by 35% during the seasonal weight restriction period. Said seasonal weight restriction period will be consistent with and the same as that period designated by the Clinton County Road Commission each year.
(2) Enforcement of the seasonal weight restrictions will be within the authority of the St. Johns City Police, or its designee, and the Clinton County Road Commission.
(Ord. 565, passed 3-12-2007)