AASHTO Journal, 27 January 2012
The Texas Transportation Commission approved Thursday raising the speed limit on roughly 1,500 miles of interstate highways to 75 mph, a 5 mph increase from the current restriction.Texas’ Department of Transportation has been reviewing existing 70 mph speed limits across the state since last September to determine the areas best suitable for the 5 mph increase. These changes are a result of a law enacted last year allowing TxDOT to establish higher speed limits if studies determine it could be done safely.
“These new speed limits increase highway efficiency while maintaining the safety of the transportation system,” Carol Rawson, TxDOT’s Traffic Operations Division director, said in a statement.
Once signs are changed on the highway segments approved Thursday, Texas will have almost 3,600 miles of 75 mph or higher zones. (Some interstates in West Texas are posted at 80 mph, the highest speed limit in the country.)
More information on the new 75 mph locations is available at bit.ly/texasspeed.