Current state speed limit increase proposals

[The High Plains Traveler]

It's bill number 0401 if you want to read about the proposal.  Interesting read, although doing some research it seems to pop up every year in some form or another.

Sure looked like April Fool to me.

[tckma]

Yesterday, I-70 was re-signed at 70 MPH between MD-144 in Frederick and US-29 in Ellicott City.  I went to work in the morning (MD-97 to US-29 on I-70) and it was 65, and when I drove home (US-29 to MD-97) it was 70.  No pomp and circumstance, no fanfare, just the signage was silently changed at some point yesterday.  I looked back and saw the other side was re-signed as well.

[cl94]

Yesterday, I-70 was re-signed at 70 MPH between MD-144 in Frederick and US-29 in Ellicott City.  I went to work in the morning (MD-97 to US-29 on I-70) and it was 65, and when I drove home (US-29 to MD-97) it was 70.  No pomp and circumstance, no fanfare, just the signage was silently changed at some point yesterday.  I looked back and saw the other side was re-signed as well.

SHA did a Facebook post in the mid-afternoon and a few of the news agencies reported on it from what I saw. In this day and age, that's probably all you need-enough people use Facebook and Twitter that spreading it over social media will get almost everyone.

[jeffandnicole]

http://www.nj.com/traffic/index.ssf/2016/04/a_70mph_speed_limit_in_nj_not_so_fast_state_says.html#incart_2box_nj-homepage-featured

"A 70 mph speed limit in N.J.? Not so fast, state says"

I'm not so sure the title is correct.  The reporter asked the various toll and NJDOT agencies about increasing the speed limit.  The issue is, they can't just increase the limit without the law in place.  Take this quote for example: "The Turnpike Authority believes the current speed limits on the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway are appropriate for those roadways," said Tom Feeney, a spokesman. "There is no active consideration being given to raising them."

There's probably no active consideration being given because there's no reason to.  The law would have to be revised first.  Heck, the law would need to be introduced, voted on, and passed first!  I'm sure if 70 mph (or 85th percentile speeds) were permitted, you would suddenly find a lot of positive consideration given to raising the speed limit!

[Otto Yamamoto]

I saw a report today that New York's new budget bill includes a provision to increase the speed limit to 80 across the state. Roadways getting the new 80 mph limit include the Thruway between Exits 15 and 49 and west of 56, I-86 west of Corning, I-81 north of Syracuse, and I-87 north of Exit 12.

Wow, 65 straight to 80.  That is a huge increase.

80 has been the de facto limit on the Thruway for many years.

[kendancy66]

Before NMSL, it was 70 here.

It was 65 right before the 1973 oil embargo began. I remember hearing that NYDOT put the 65 signs into storage and put them back up when they raised the limit in 1995.

The same ones?  Wouldn't they have been, well, old?  And without updated reflectivity standards?

Has anyone else noticed that the speed limit signs on Santa Ana freeway in south LA county were so old, that they looked like all they did was remove a five overlay to get the signs back to 65 after the NMSL was repealed. You could see residue left from overlay

[Rothman]

I saw a report today that New York's new budget bill includes a provision to increase the speed limit to 80 across the state. Roadways getting the new 80 mph limit include the Thruway between Exits 15 and 49 and west of 56, I-86 west of Corning, I-81 north of Syracuse, and I-87 north of Exit 12.

Wow, 65 straight to 80.  That is a huge increase.

80 has been the de facto limit on the Thruway for many years.

Sorta.  A few years ago, a representative from State Police Troop T stated that the average speed that was ticketed on the Thruway was 83.  So, I suppose you'd have to see the distribution to see how many tickets were handed out for 80 or lower.

[cl94]

I saw a report today that New York's new budget bill includes a provision to increase the speed limit to 80 across the state. Roadways getting the new 80 mph limit include the Thruway between Exits 15 and 49 and west of 56, I-86 west of Corning, I-81 north of Syracuse, and I-87 north of Exit 12.

Wow, 65 straight to 80.  That is a huge increase.

80 has been the de facto limit on the Thruway for many years.

Sorta.  A few years ago, a representative from State Police Troop T stated that the average speed that was ticketed on the Thruway was 83.  So, I suppose you'd have to see the distribution to see how many tickets were handed out for 80 or lower.

Depends on where. Speeds west of Albany tend to be lower than those south of Albany. Saturday, I was in a line of cars going over 80 and the guy who got pulled over blew past us, probably going at least 90.

[jakeroot]

Washington State is seeking public input regarding an increase from 70 to 75 on a roughly 100 mile stretch of I-90 between George and the Spokane County line. According to the press release, the state has been studying an increase for some time. The Eastern Washington legislators have been pushing the DOT for an increase along I-90 first before an increase anywhere else. I suspect in good time, the current stretches of 70 will be raised to 75.

http://goo.gl/amVeuW

[cl94]

Washington State is seeking public input regarding an increase from 70 to 75 on a roughly 100 mile stretch of I-90 between George and the Spokane County line. According to the press release, the state has been studying an increase for some time. The Eastern Washington legislators have been pushing the DOT for an increase along I-90 first before an increase anywhere else. I suspect in good time, the current stretches of 70 will be raised to 75.

http://goo.gl/amVeuW

Not surprising. It's quite rural and not too mountainous. I do have a concern about the truck speed limit remaining 60, though.

[Scott5114]

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin signed a law yesterday that removes the statutory speed limit cap, instead allowing ODOT and OTA to post whatever speed limits they feel appropriate following a speed study. Previously, turnpikes were capped at 75 MPH, four-lane divided roads at 70, and two-lane roads at 65.

[jakeroot]

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin signed a law yesterday that removes the statutory speed limit cap, instead allowing ODOT and OTA to post whatever speed limits they feel appropriate following a speed study. Previously, turnpikes were capped at 75 MPH, four-lane divided roads at 70, and two-lane roads at 65.

So if ODOT/OTA felt, for example, an 85 mph speed limit were appropriate for certain stretches, they would be free to post said limit? How many other states are setup like this? I think even Texas has a cap of 85.

[jeffandnicole]

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin signed a law yesterday that removes the statutory speed limit cap, instead allowing ODOT and OTA to post whatever speed limits they feel appropriate following a speed study. Previously, turnpikes were capped at 75 MPH, four-lane divided roads at 70, and two-lane roads at 65.

So if ODOT/OTA felt, for example, an 85 mph speed limit were appropriate for certain stretches, they would be free to post said limit? How many other states are setup like this? I think even Texas has a cap of 85.

I don't think any other state has a setup like this, although it's been talked about by some states. 

While they would be free to post any speed limit they deem appropriate, you know that they will get some flack from the State Police, legislators, the public, etc, if they wanted to post what some feel is too high of a limit.  They may be able to get away with 80 in some areas, but I'm sure even if a road would be appropriate at 85 mph, you're not going to see it posted...at least until people are comfortable with 80 several years down the road...

[jakeroot]

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin signed a law yesterday that removes the statutory speed limit cap, instead allowing ODOT and OTA to post whatever speed limits they feel appropriate following a speed study. Previously, turnpikes were capped at 75 MPH, four-lane divided roads at 70, and two-lane roads at 65.

So if ODOT/OTA felt, for example, an 85 mph speed limit were appropriate for certain stretches, they would be free to post said limit? How many other states are setup like this? I think even Texas has a cap of 85.

I don't think any other state has a setup like this, although it's been talked about by some states. 

While they would be free to post any speed limit they deem appropriate, you know that they will get some flack from the State Police, legislators, the public, etc, if they wanted to post what some feel is too high of a limit.  They may be able to get away with 80 in some areas, but I'm sure even if a road would be appropriate at 85 mph, you're not going to see it posted...at least until people are comfortable with 80 several years down the road...

Certainly they'd step-up the limit over time, rather than an immediate 10 mph bump. I'm just a little staggered that a DOT has complete control over speed limits. This really is how it ought to be. Politicians shouldn't be deciding speed limits.

[cl94]

I'm just a little staggered that a DOT has complete control over speed limits. This really is how it ought to be. Politicians shouldn't be deciding speed limits.

Tell that to the Cuomo family. Uncle Mario was the reason New York took so long to increase above 55 (it was one of Pataki's first actions in office) and his son wants to lower stuff back to 55 (or lower in some places). Now that 70 mph limits literally touch the state line on the south (and might do so to the east if the Mass Pike ever goes up like has been discussed), we might get more of a push.

[vdeane]

Aside from NY 198 and the default speed limit in NYC, has there been anything stated on that?  All I could find is this: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3109330/posts

Not exactly authoritative.

In any case, they had better not lower the limit.  Even 65 feels painfully slow.

[PHLBOS]

Aside from NY 198 and the default speed limit in NYC, has there been anything stated on that?  All I could find is this: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3109330/posts

Not exactly authoritative.

In any case, they had better not lower the limit.  Even 65 feels painfully slow.

Not to turn this thread into a political flame fest but if the above proposal is indeed true; registered voters in NY had a chance nearly 2 years ago to send Gov. Cuomo packing but didn't.  Elections (including non-participation in such) have consequences, folks.

Nonetheless, it is my understanding that such would need to be approved by the State Legislature prior to Cuomo signing such.  I would suggest that every NY resident, especially registered voters, contact their State Rep. & State Senator and let your voice be heard on this matter.  Some of these individuals may be up for re-election this coming November (the Presidency isn't the only race on the ballot this fall).  If there's enough blowback from the public; Gov. Cuomo & his minions will be forced to table such a plan.

[cl94]

Of course, with the gerrymandering, New York has one of the highest incumbent win rates in Albany. Hasn't dropped under 90% in several decades. That's on my long list of things to send my assemblyman and state senator and, now that I am licensed and have letters after my name, they can't write me off as easily. Pretty hard to tell a licensed civil engineer specializing in transportation that he's wrong about readily-available statistics and guidelines.

The real issue in New York is that, in most of the state, the speed limit the cops enforce is a good 10-15+ above posted except in small towns. The posted speed limit really doesn't mean much in most places.

[1995hoo]

The comment about elections should ring true to all of us who remember the NMSL. I think it's reasonable to say that if the Republicans hadn't taken control of Congress in 1994, the speed limit repeal would not have been included in the 1995 highway-funding bill. Clinton wasn't too happy about it, either, but said the funding was more important.

[jakeroot]

Cross-posting this from the Washington-specific thread on speed limits:



While 75 is still on the table, the most obvious section of freeway in the state (I-90 in Eastern Washington) will not qualify for the increased limit. From KREM2 - Spokane:

The Washington state Department of Transportation, Washington State Patrol and Washington Traffic Safety Commission announced Wednesday they have decided against the proposal because of safety concerns.

They found the increased risks and costs associated with the proposed change far outweighed the projected time savings. Their analysis predicted an additional 1.27 fatal or serious crashes annually if the speed limit was raised. A higher speed limit also would bring an estimated $8.3 million in additional annual safety costs.

1.27

And $8.3mil towards additional annual safety costs? I'm definitely interested to see the official press release. What in the world would that be going towards?

[Scott5114]

So they don't want to allow people to save time on millions of journeys because it might cause 6 more accidents over 5 years? That's asinine.

[jakeroot]

So they don't want to allow people to save time on millions of journeys because it might cause 6 more accidents over 5 years? That's asinine.

Agreed. Especially when the number of collisions on Washington's public roads has been decreasing since records began, even though limits are higher now than ever before.

[Otto Yamamoto]

I saw a report today that New York's new budget bill includes a provision to increase the speed limit to 80 across the state. Roadways getting the new 80 mph limit include the Thruway between Exits 15 and 49 and west of 56, I-86 west of Corning, I-81 north of Syracuse, and I-87 north of Exit 12.

Wow, 65 straight to 80.  That is a huge increase.

80 has been the de facto limit on the Thruway for many years.

Sorta.  A few years ago, a representative from State Police Troop T stated that the average speed that was ticketed on the Thruway was 83.  So, I suppose you'd have to see the distribution to see how many tickets were handed out for 80 or lower.

I drove commercially for 10 years in Southern NY, the only times l was stopped was if I were going 80+, and in the main, I was moving with the flow of traffic in the nearside lane, not overtaking.

XT1585

[kalvado]

So they don't want to allow people to save time on millions of journeys because it might cause 6 more accidents over 5 years? That's asinine.

A good question to ask is how many serious  accidents are there right now...

[doorknob60]

A 15 mile stretch of US-95 north of Coeur D'Alene, ID will be raised from 65 to 70 MPH. As far as I know, this will be the first non-interstate posted above 65 in Idaho. How Oregon beat them to that, I have no idea

http://cdapress.com/news/local_news/article_3ab19d7d-9299-5976-a77a-634c5b12eb11.html