“Believe Me, We Get Calls Every Day”

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18-wheels rumbling on brick. It’s got a sound that tells you somethings coming and you’ll want to step aside. And, increasingly you’ll hear it before you see it on Lincoln and Grant streets here in Blair.

This was something our prior Mayor, Rich Hansen, warned about. The progress and economic enrichment of Dollar General could lead to unintended consequences on our side streets.

He was right.

On balance, it’s great deal for Blair. Dollar General is good for Blair, and we should absolutely embrace the chance for Blair to grow because of opportunities like Dollar General.

And, yet, still not cool to have trucks meant for open highways maneuvering between parked cars in our neighborhoods. If you think it’s not that big of a deal, there are quite a few people no longer living in Blair due to truck traffic – and that’s on main street.

I called the city today to ask what sort of ordinances exist for this situation. I was told to call the police about it. So, I called the police.

The person I spoke with said both politely and firmly, “Believe me, we get calls every day,” about the trucks up and down neighborhood streets. So, if you wondered aloud if you were the only one, well, you are not.

This is a familiar problem that echoes in many small towns around the country. Let’s look at three specific cases:

1. Berryville, Arkansas: The town faced a similar issue when a new Walmart distribution center opened. The center, while providing jobs and boosting the local economy, also led to an increase in heavy truck traffic on residential streets. To mitigate this, Berryville officials and the Arkansas Department of Transportation collaborated to create a bypass around the town. The project, while taking some time to complete, ultimately directed truck traffic away from residential areas and towards the distribution center more efficiently.
2. Stafford, Texas: The expansion of the industrial park in Stafford led to increased heavy truck traffic, causing concerns about safety and noise pollution. In response, the city council passed stricter ordinances regarding truck routes, restricting heavy vehicles to specific streets and thoroughfares. They also imposed stricter enforcement and heavier fines for those violating the new ordinances. This step significantly reduced the number of trucks driving through residential areas.
3. Kingman, Arizona: A burgeoning industrial park led to similar problems in Kingman. The town implemented a dual-pronged solution to address this issue. First, they installed explicit signs to guide truck drivers to the industrial park via non-residential routes. Secondly, they worked with the businesses in the industrial park to ensure that they provided clear instructions to their drivers, which also included penalties for companies whose drivers failed to comply with the designated routes.

In each of these cases, the towns were able to strike a balance between fostering economic development and preserving the quality of life in residential areas. Their solutions involved a combination of infrastructure improvements, regulation changes, and collaboration with the businesses causing the increase in truck traffic.

At a minimum, there need to be more explicit signs to show truckers how to get to Dollar General. There is a specific route they are supposed to take. Any of the major roads into town need to clearly indicate the correct path to Dollar General. If Blair is going to add business and industry, we need to at least direct drivers to where they need to go – and, not. And, Dollar General needs to give drivers specific instructions on how to find the facility without driving through our neighborhoods.

What do you think? Take our one-question survey: https://s.surveyplanet.com/qcw95642