Four central Texas cities plan to ban large commercial trucks from the far left lane of Interstate 35.

According to the Austin American Statesman, Routh Rock, Austin, San Marcos and Georgetown plan to take advantage of a 1997 law giving them the authority to set such rules. The Texas Department of Transportation recently sent letters to cities along Texas interstates encouraging them to take advantage of the 5-year-old legislation.
The rules could take effect in May 2003. They would cover a nearly 60-mile stretch of Interstate between San Marcos and Georgetown.
Houston, the only other Texas city so far to limit trucks to certain lanes, says crashes along Interstate 10 through the city have decreased by 68 percent since their law took effect nearly two years ago. However, some critics say the decrease is due to increased patrols of the stretch of interstate by troopers rather than lane restrictions.