Virginia

[Beltway]

Same separator as on I-495. 65 mph HOT, 55 mph GP. Difference may be that I-66 is fairly straight, while I-495 has a lot of horizontal curvature.

When they posted 65 on the Beltway, they said they never considered posting 70 mph there.
Edited to add: Here is a WTOP report from 2013 from back when they raised the Beltway express lanes to 65 mph. They said the study showed 70 would have been justifiable but that they recommended against it.

It is near the margin. Even in the old days when most of I-495 was like a rural highway, the highest (nearly all) in Virginia was 65 mph.

[Mapmikey]

This location of the 495 outer loop express lanes is where 70 should be too high:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/c63mQiSfQZwhaRjJ6

On ramps from both sides.  The left one (from VA 267/Dulles Toll Rd) has <1000 ft to merge over while some 495 traffic is trying to make a left exit to Tysons Corner.

About every other week I would be in one lane wanting to move over to allow a merge but could not because someone was also coming down the opposite on-ramp.  Zero right shoulder and a close-to-full lane width left shoulder.

I always think of this location when wondering why 65 mph is not the default limit on urban freeways.

[Pink Jazz]

This location of the 495 outer loop express lanes is where 70 should be too high:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/c63mQiSfQZwhaRjJ6

On ramps from both sides.  The left one (from VA 267/Dulles Toll Rd) has <1000 ft to merge over while some 495 traffic is trying to make a left exit to Tysons Corner.

About every other week I would be in one lane wanting to move over to allow a merge but could not because someone was also coming down the opposite on-ramp.  Zero right shoulder and a close-to-full lane width left shoulder.

I always think of this location when wondering why 65 mph is not the default limit on urban freeways.

Considering that 65 mph is the default limit on urban freeways in most other states (especially in the South and West), VDOT is putting itself at a competitive disadvantage. States like Arizona, Texas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and New Mexico routinely post urban freeways at 65 mph. Almost all of these states have freeway segments with comparable geometry and 85th percentile speeds to I-264 in VB and post them at 60 or 65 mph without compromising safety.

BTW I emailed VDOT about this, but they said I have to be a Virginia resident (I live in Arizona). I visit Hampton Roads a lot to visit my aunt, but unfortunately it has to be under her name. If anyone from Virginia can do me this favor to try to convince VDOT to raise the speed limit, that would be greatly appreciated, and my aunt would also appreciate it.

[1995hoo]

"Competitive disadvantage"? How so? Somehow I can't see anyone saying, "Oh, I-264's speed limit from Virginia Beach to Norfolk is too slow, so I'll use I-17 as an alternate route."

[Pink Jazz]

"Competitive disadvantage"? How so? Somehow I can't see anyone saying, "Oh, I-264's speed limit from Virginia Beach to Norfolk is too slow, so I'll use I-17 as an alternate route."

I mean in comparison to other states that have more forgiving speed limits on comparable highways. This for some people might be a factor in determining quality of life for a specific city.

[Beltway]

Considering that 65 mph is the default limit on urban freeways in most other states (especially in the South and West), VDOT is putting itself at a competitive disadvantage. States like Arizona, Texas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and New Mexico routinely post urban freeways at 65 mph. Almost all of these states have freeway segments with comparable geometry and 85th percentile speeds to I-264 in VB and post them at 60 or 65 mph without compromising safety.
BTW I emailed VDOT about this, but they said I have to be a Virginia resident (I live in Arizona). I visit Hampton Roads a lot to visit my aunt, but unfortunately it has to be under her name. If anyone from Virginia can do me this favor to try to convince VDOT to raise the speed limit, that would be greatly appreciated, and my aunt would also appreciate it.

That is not the VDOT that I know -- they take comments from other states. And NC is right across the border from Hampton Roads. And metro D.C. includes Marykand and Washington.

What do you consider to be an urban freeway in NC?  There is precious little other than I-277 and I-240.

I see plenty of 55mph segments in FL and GA.

Besides, 60 mph limits are present in South Hampton Roads and 60 and 65 mph in Hampton and Newport News.

[WillWeaverRVA]

What do you consider to be an urban freeway in NC?  There is precious little other than I-277 and I-240.

US 29 in Greensboro (posted at 60) and US 52 in Winston-Salem (posted at 55) probably fit the bill but both of them are well below interstate standards. NC 147 in Durham is also posted at 55 and is also fairly substandard.

Granted, I-264 is substandard or barely Interstate standard in Virginia Beach too.

[ElishaGOtis]

This location of the 495 outer loop express lanes is where 70 should be too high:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/c63mQiSfQZwhaRjJ6

On ramps from both sides.  The left one (from VA 267/Dulles Toll Rd) has <1000 ft to merge over while some 495 traffic is trying to make a left exit to Tysons Corner.

About every other week I would be in one lane wanting to move over to allow a merge but could not because someone was also coming down the opposite on-ramp.  Zero right shoulder and a close-to-full lane width left shoulder.

I always think of this location when wondering why 65 mph is not the default limit on urban freeways.

Considering that 65 mph is the default limit on urban freeways in most other states (especially in the South and West), VDOT is putting itself at a competitive disadvantage. States like Arizona, Texas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and New Mexico routinely post urban freeways at 65 mph. Almost all of these states have freeway segments with comparable geometry and 85th percentile speeds to I-264 in VB and post them at 60 or 65 mph without compromising safety.

BTW I emailed VDOT about this, but they said I have to be a Virginia resident (I live in Arizona). I visit Hampton Roads a lot to visit my aunt, but unfortunately it has to be under her name. If anyone from Virginia can do me this favor to try to convince VDOT to raise the speed limit, that would be greatly appreciated, and my aunt would also appreciate it.

Also found this
https://my.vdot.virginia.gov/#0

[1995hoo]

"Competitive disadvantage"? How so? Somehow I can't see anyone saying, "Oh, I-264's speed limit from Virginia Beach to Norfolk is too slow, so I'll use I-17 as an alternate route."

I mean in comparison to other states that have more forgiving speed limits on comparable highways. This for some people might be a factor in determining quality of life for a specific city.

Surely you're trolling at this point.

VDOT's not going to take that sort of thing into account when deciding on speed limits.