Tom Warne Report, 26 October 2012
Reuters – October 24, 2012
Texas raised some highway speed limits to 80 mph years ago. This week, the state opened a 41-mile section of Pickle Parkway with a limit of 85 mph – the highest legal limit in the nation. State transportation officials are hoping the higher speed limit on the new stretch of State Highway 130 between San Antonio and Austin will be a draw to motorists so they will pay the roughly $12 to travel on the 90-mile road.
Joe Krier, who is a board member of the private company which built the road, said there is no reason why drivers should not drive that fast. “This project was designed to support it, and the engineers are confident with it,” he said. The Texas Transportation Commission voted last summer to approve the 85 mph speeds.
An official with the American Trucking Association said the high speed limit may keep some 18-wheel trucks, many hauling loads manufactured in Mexico to the United States, off the road. Darrin Roth of the ATA said many trucking companies prohibit their vehicles from traveling faster than 70 mph to 75 mph, and fuel consumption increases exponentially as speeds go up, which could cut into company revenue.