Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Texas toll road getting 85 mph speed limit
upi ^ | Sept. 7, 2012

Posted on 09/07/2012 4:30:37 PM PDT by JoeProBono

MUSTANG RIDGE, Texas, - Before long, a stretch of Texas toll road will have the nation's highest speed limit -- 85 mph.

Motorists desiring to zip along at that speed legally will only be able to do it about 29 minutes at a time, however. That's how long it will take to traverse the 41-mile section of Texas 130 between Mustang Ridge near Austin to Seguin going 85 mph.

The speed limit approved by the Texas Transportation Commission goes into effect when the toll road is completed, which is expected to be Nov. 11, the Houston Chronicle reported Thursday.

The 85 mph limit will put Texas ahead of Utah, where motorists are allowed to speed along at a maximum of 80 mph, the newspaper said.

Safety is a concern for some.

"Research clearly demonstrates the direct connection between higher speed limits and more fatalities," Russ Rader of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in Arlington, Va., told the Chronicle. "When speed limits go up, deaths on those roads go up. When speed limits go down, deaths on those roads go down."

Chris Lippincott, a spokesman for the consortium that is building the road, said state transportation officials have determined the highway can be traveled safely at 85 mph.

"We are committed to operating a safe, reliable highway for our customers," Lippincott said. "On any road, drivers hold the key to safety based on traffic, travel conditions and the capabilities of their own vehicles."

Claiming the national speed limit record has already ignited criticism.

"As accidents pile up on on 85-mph roads, so too will insurance claims," said David Snyder of the American Insurance Association in a newspaper editorial last year. "That will lead to increased insurance costs."

How much it will cost for the privilege of driving on the road has yet to be determined.


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Travel
KEYWORDS: speedlimit; texas
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-96 next last
To: JoeProBono

It seems to me a better idea would be to use some math, as far as distances and speeds, and set up a vehicle only high speed rail line.

Imagine the two story car carrier trucks used by car dealerships, but as trains with thin, streamlining walls and roof. Cars drive into position and are secured. It takes the train several miles to accelerate to maybe 180mph, and even more miles to brake when approaching the end. So the route would be worth it if it was 200-300 miles. And the further they went without halting, the better the deal.


41 posted on 09/07/2012 5:58:14 PM PDT by yefragetuwrabrumuy (DIY Bumper Sticker: "THREE TIMES,/ DEMOCRATS/ REJECTED GOD")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: matt04

That is correct. And then they eff them up putting in eurotrash roundabouts.


42 posted on 09/07/2012 5:58:46 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (I can neither confirm or deny that; even if I could, I couldn't - it's classified.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: hinckley buzzard

And look at PA now.


43 posted on 09/07/2012 6:00:05 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (I can neither confirm or deny that; even if I could, I couldn't - it's classified.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Grams A

We are heated to Aransas Pass in less than a month and I am dreading I35.
We have been known to take the scenic route rather than I35.
It’s about the same amount of time.


44 posted on 09/07/2012 6:04:17 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: Secret Agent Man

I call PA the “land of orange barrels”
The roads are always under construction.


45 posted on 09/07/2012 6:05:55 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: mylife

Good excuse for “Fines Doubled” eh?


46 posted on 09/07/2012 6:12:37 PM PDT by MetaThought
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: usconservative

>>>>>Funny thing, that turbo-diesel didn’t seem to be straining at all and still did better than 30mpg. Go figure.>>>>>

Mazda has to offer diesels in Europe to feed demand but Japanese diesels no matter how good it felt for you are stone age comparing to latest European technology.

BMW 730d has a tiny 3 liter 6 cyl turbo diesel making 333 hp. Just imagine it. It is a full size sporty luxury sedan making 170+ mph at 34 mpg city/hwy.

Go figure. They are laughing at Volt and Prius.


47 posted on 09/07/2012 6:17:34 PM PDT by cunning_fish (.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: MetaThought

No, It’s just the annoying result of having to keep state workers employed leaning on shovels.


48 posted on 09/07/2012 6:24:25 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: JoeProBono

http://youtu.be/uj4MEGi-OyQ


49 posted on 09/07/2012 6:28:38 PM PDT by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: mylife

Take US 77 down to Victoria and then go to Tivoli, Rockport, and then PA/AP. Pretty drive and about half of it is four-lane. Much less stressful.


50 posted on 09/07/2012 6:34:34 PM PDT by crusty old prospector
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: bgill

don’t hit any turtles or panzerpigs at that speed or it could be .. not good.


51 posted on 09/07/2012 6:34:52 PM PDT by RitchieAprile
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: RitchieAprile

grrr (said the little old lady crawling along at 70) DH will be a busy boy looking at all those mangled heaps of metal. Where’s Dick Nixon when we need him?

I give up. What’s a panzerpig?


52 posted on 09/07/2012 6:40:45 PM PDT by KGeorge
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: JoeProBono

I heard some roads in Montana basically have no speed limit......it’s just whatever is “reasonable” for the current conditions.


53 posted on 09/07/2012 6:42:38 PM PDT by MachIV
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JoeProBono

That speed limit will only last until the traffic gets heavy. And it will


54 posted on 09/07/2012 6:51:30 PM PDT by Figment
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: smokingfrog

55 posted on 09/07/2012 6:52:02 PM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet - Mater tua caligas exercitus gerit ;-{)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: mylife

You will have a choice between the bus or the plane. If traffic gets as heavy as I35 you wouldn’t be able to go that fast on the new road anyway


56 posted on 09/07/2012 6:56:20 PM PDT by Figment
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: JoeProBono

That bypass is great. The wife and I took it several years ago. Just about nobody on it. There’s one around Denver that’s great as well. Those bypass toll roads are well worth the money.


57 posted on 09/07/2012 6:56:21 PM PDT by driftless2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JoeProBono

There are many stretches in California that are safe at 85, and the traffic moves at that speed. Posted limit is 70 or 75.

Just to avoid a citation, I stay with the flow, but not the fastest vehicle. Let somebody else volunteer for the citation, if a patrolman decides to teach the pack by citing the fastest.


58 posted on 09/07/2012 6:56:41 PM PDT by truth_seeker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Eric in the Ozarks

Wisconsin’s speed limit is 65 on the interstate. I drive 70 and it seems like I’m going in slow motion at times.


59 posted on 09/07/2012 6:58:38 PM PDT by driftless2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: bgill

This will have major traffic. If it’s posted 85, they’ll be driving 100 mpg. Just imagine the carnage when there’s an accident.

The carnage will only happen to people who knowingly paid to get on. Carnage is carnage, not much difference between 70 and 85. And if those folks are driving at 100 MPG they won’t likely be driving very fast


60 posted on 09/07/2012 7:01:30 PM PDT by Figment
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-96 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson