Senate set to take up raising Wisconsin speed limit to 70 mph

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ^ | 5-6-15 | Jason Stein

[afraidfortherepublic]

The speed limit on some Wisconsin highways would rise to 70 mph, under a proposal coming before the state Senate on Wednesday.

The bill would end Wisconsin's status as a lone island of 65 mph limits in the Midwest by increasing the maximum speed on stretches of interstates and some other four-lane highways that have overpasses, underpasses and ramps instead other roads that directly cross traffic on the highway.

If passed by the Senate, the proposal would return to the Assembly, which passed a different version of the bill on a bipartisan vote in March.

The proposal would mean that stretches of all interstates in Wisconsin could be marked up to 70 mph by the state DOT, as could stretches of state Highways 51, 53 and 151.

All of Wisconsin's neighbors have maximum speed limits of 70 mph or higher, and Wisconsin is the only state between Pennsylvania and Oregon that doesn't have a maximum speed limit of at least 70 mph.

Until now, opponents have blocked the proposal's passage in Wisconsin by arguing that there would be inevitable safety effects from allowing the higher speeds. But a compromise among GOP lawmakers cleared the way for the proposal to move forward by ensuring that highways with at-grade crossings for intersecting roads or even driveways couldn't be cleared for 70 mph speeds.

AAA Wisconsin has argued that the speed limit should not be changed in Wisconsin, particularly for heavy trucks, since an increase of 5 mph could lengthen the stopping distance for those vehicles by as much as 100 feet, or 20%.

[Shady]

Here’s a clue...most everyone goes 70’anyway...