OAKLAND — For seven decades, California has banned heavy trucks from driving Interstate 580 between Oakland and San Leandro, a rule upheld by public officials even as it diverted industrial pollution to some of the area’s most disadvantaged neighborhoods.

But state transportation officials are now diving into the precise details of what removing the longstanding ban on vehicles over 4.5 tons — or 9,000 pounds — would mean for the region’s environment, including its air quality and noise pollution.

The undertaking is expected to study traffic patterns, examine racial equity and conduct health assessments to understand how the ban affects community life. There is no timeline for completion. Beyond the new research endeavor, there isn’t yet much political momentum around lifting the ban.

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