Pay a toll, drive faster

[cpzilliacus]

From WTOP Radio, Washington, D.C.: Pay a toll, drive faster

Area drivers are already paying tolls to drive faster, but in other states the trend could be headed to another level.

Drivers already have the toll option along roads, including the InterCounty Connector in Maryland. On the all-electronic ICC, drivers can pay a toll and drive at about 55 mph any time of the day.

Likewise in Virginia, the soon-to-open Beltway Express Lanes offer the promise of a speedy rush hour trip of 55 mph, if drivers pay a toll.

In Texas -- where of course, everything is bigger -- a new toll road could have drivers flying down the highway.

[bugo]

The speed limit on rural Oklahoma turnpikes is 75, while free interstates are 70.

[agentsteel53]

for the longest time, the CA-73 toll road was known to be very lightly patrolled.  speed of traffic was in the low 90s.

alas, now it is patrolled.  speed of traffic is higher than the corresponding segments of 5 and 405 only when 5 and 405 are busy.

[oscar]

Last I was there, in Puerto Rico only toll roads had 65mph speed limits (yes, miles per hour, even through PR is otherwise metric).  No non-toll roads had speed limits higher than 55mph. 

[cpzilliacus]

for the longest time, the CA-73 toll road was known to be very lightly patrolled.  speed of traffic was in the low 90s.

alas, now it is patrolled.  speed of traffic is higher than the corresponding segments of 5 and 405 only when 5 and 405 are busy.

Ca. 73 is a gorgeous highway! 

At least the TCA (tolled) segment ought to have a posted limit of 75 or maybe 80.  It would also attract more (paying) customers.

[cpzilliacus]

The speed limit on rural Oklahoma turnpikes is 75, while free interstates are 70.

Are those limits too low?  I have never visited Oklahoma, so I have no personal knowledge.

[agentsteel53]

Are those limits too low?  I have never visited Oklahoma, so I have no personal knowledge.

75 seems about right.  I'm happy doing about 79 on those roads.

[bugo]

The speed limit on rural Oklahoma turnpikes is 75, while free interstates are 70.

Are those limits too low?  I have never visited Oklahoma, so I have no personal knowledge.

75 is about right on the Will Rogers and Turner Turnpikes because of their early '50s design standards and large volumes of traffic.  The other turnpikes would be safe at higher speeds.  The interstates are signed too low, as they are mostly built to better design standards than the turnpikes.

[agentsteel53]

At least the TCA (tolled) segment ought to have a posted limit of 75 or maybe 80.  It would also attract more (paying) customers.

while we're at it, make those northernmost 4 miles or whatnot be the same speed limit as well. 

80 seems like a good speed limit for that road.

[cpzilliacus]

At least the TCA (tolled) segment ought to have a posted limit of 75 or maybe 80.  It would also attract more (paying) customers.

while we're at it, make those northernmost 4 miles or whatnot be the same speed limit as well. 

80 seems like a good speed limit for that road.

It's been a few years since I drove it, but 80 is certainly fine for the tolled part. At the north ("free") end, it seemed like the road was busier (and there were more on- and off-ramps close together), hence 80 might (IMO) be a little bit high.

[Scott5114]

The speed limit on rural Oklahoma turnpikes is 75, while free interstates are 70.

Are those limits too low?  I have never visited Oklahoma, so I have no personal knowledge.

75 is about right on the Will Rogers and Turner Turnpikes because of their early '50s design standards and large volumes of traffic.  The other turnpikes would be safe at higher speeds.

The Indian Nation is worse than the Will Rogers and Turner. Its design standards are abysmal; I'd estimate the median at 4 feet, and most of the bridges are divided with only a raised curb.

[Alps]

In NJ, police enforcement on the toll roads is EVEN MORE generous than on the free roads. On free roads, they'll start pulling you at 75 in a 55 and 80 in a 65. On the toll roads, you can possibly get away with even 85 in a 55 or 65 - they look for aggressive driving behavior more than pure speed.

[bugo]

The speed limit on rural Oklahoma turnpikes is 75, while free interstates are 70.

Are those limits too low?  I have never visited Oklahoma, so I have no personal knowledge.

75 is about right on the Will Rogers and Turner Turnpikes because of their early '50s design standards and large volumes of traffic.  The other turnpikes would be safe at higher speeds.

The Indian Nation is worse than the Will Rogers and Turner. Its design standards are abysmal; I'd estimate the median at 4 feet, and most of the bridges are divided with only a raised curb.

Part of the Muskogee has the raised grassy median:



The Muskogee, Indian Nation, Cimarron, and Muskogee Turnpikes are designed to a slightly higher standard than the Turner and Will Rogers Turnpikes.  The Turner and Will Rogers are hillier and straighter than the later pikes.  Look at the Turner on an aerial view: the road is perfectly straight for miles and miles with few curves.  The first generation turnpikes all have the narrow median, but some of the grassy medians have been replaced by Jersey barriers.  From what I've been told, parts of the Bailey turnpike still has the grassy median.  The Cherokee, Creek, and Kilpatrick are designed to modern standards.

[Duke87]

Just because a road is tolled does not mean the speed limit should be higher. Speed limits should be based only on what is safe, and on engineering principles. Political meddling with them is stupid.

[agentsteel53]

Just because a road is tolled does not mean the speed limit should be higher. Speed limits should be based only on what is safe, and on engineering principles. Political meddling with them is stupid.

I base it on the idea that toll roads have lower vehicle counts, and therefore are safer to drive at higher speeds.

I know this about 73 from experience.

[cpzilliacus]

Just because a road is tolled does not mean the speed limit should be higher. Speed limits should be based only on what is safe, and on engineering principles. Political meddling with them is stupid.

However, many toll roads (especially the older ones in the East) have widely-spaced interchanges, and that's one reason why they ought to have higher posted speed limits.

[jeffandnicole]

Just because a road is tolled does not mean the speed limit should be higher. Speed limits should be based only on what is safe, and on engineering principles. Political meddling with them is stupid.

Um, there isn't a speed limit in this country that doesn't have some sort of political influence.  Find me 1 state that doesn't have a law regarding a maximum speed limit.

[realjd]

In Miami, the express toll lanes along I95 are essentially unpoliced so speeds of 90+ are not uncommon.

[thenetwork]

And then there is the new Texas Toll Road opening up in November with a speed limit of 85 MPH...

[vdeane]

Just because a road is tolled does not mean the speed limit should be higher. Speed limits should be based only on what is safe, and on engineering principles. Political meddling with them is stupid.

Um, there isn't a speed limit in this country that doesn't have some sort of political influence.  Find me 1 state that doesn't have a law regarding a maximum speed limit.

Just because everybody's doing it (having politicians interfere with speed limits) doesn't make it right.  If everybody started jumping off a cliff, would you?

[jeffandnicole]

Just because a road is tolled does not mean the speed limit should be higher. Speed limits should be based only on what is safe, and on engineering principles. Political meddling with them is stupid.

Um, there isn't a speed limit in this country that doesn't have some sort of political influence.  Find me 1 state that doesn't have a law regarding a maximum speed limit.

Just because everybody's doing it (having politicians interfere with speed limits) doesn't make it right.  If everybody started jumping off a cliff, would you?

Huh?  Do you just type random, overused cliches? 

[Alps]

Just because a road is tolled does not mean the speed limit should be higher. Speed limits should be based only on what is safe, and on engineering principles. Political meddling with them is stupid.

Um, there isn't a speed limit in this country that doesn't have some sort of political influence.  Find me 1 state that doesn't have a law regarding a maximum speed limit.

Just because everybody's doing it (having politicians interfere with speed limits) doesn't make it right.  If everybody started jumping off a cliff, would you?

Huh?  Do you just type random, overused cliches? 

That's the first one I've seen. So the answer is "no."

Just because a road is tolled does not mean the speed limit should be higher. Speed limits should be based only on what is safe, and on engineering principles. Political meddling with them is stupid.

Um, there isn't a speed limit in this country that doesn't have some sort of political influence.  Find me 1 state that doesn't have a law regarding a maximum speed limit.

A red herring in this debate. 85 mph should not be a "treat" dangled in exchange for favors. Either your maximum is 80 or it's 85, and it should be applied regardless of who owns the road.

[Scott5114]

Just because a road is tolled does not mean the speed limit should be higher. Speed limits should be based only on what is safe, and on engineering principles. Political meddling with them is stupid.

Um, there isn't a speed limit in this country that doesn't have some sort of political influence.  Find me 1 state that doesn't have a law regarding a maximum speed limit.

Just because everybody's doing it (having politicians interfere with speed limits) doesn't make it right.  If everybody started jumping off a cliff, would you?

Huh?  Do you just type random, overused cliches? 

Sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

[Henry]

It must be nice to speed along those toll lanes while the rest is at a standstill during rush hour!

[wxfree]

It should be pointed out that in Texas the highest speed limit is not by law limited to toll roads; it's limited to roads that are designed for those high speeds.  That could be interpreted as being limited to new roads, which in today's environment will probably be toll roads, but I suspect that before too long either statutory amendments or TxDOT's interpretation will apply the 85 mph limit to ultra-rural sections of I-10 and I-20 where the speed limit is now 80.  TxDOT did post a speed limit of 80 on sections of SH 130 and 45 that were open before the law was passed.  Under other statutes, the highest limit would be 75.  This shows that they are willing to post the higher limits on roads that pre-date the 2011 law.

It's true that toll roads tend to have lighter traffic, but some freeways have very light traffic and widely-spaced ramps due to their location.