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.
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.
That is correct. And then they eff them up putting in eurotrash roundabouts.
And look at PA now.
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.
I call PA the “land of orange barrels”
The roads are always under construction.
Good excuse for “Fines Doubled” eh?
>>>>>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.
No, It’s just the annoying result of having to keep state workers employed leaning on shovels.
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.
don’t hit any turtles or panzerpigs at that speed or it could be .. not good.
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?
I heard some roads in Montana basically have no speed limit......it’s just whatever is “reasonable” for the current conditions.
That speed limit will only last until the traffic gets heavy. And it will
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
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.
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.
Wisconsin’s speed limit is 65 on the interstate. I drive 70 and it seems like I’m going in slow motion at times.
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
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