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Texas considers 1st 85 mph speed limit on new segment of toll road between Austin, San Antonio
StarTribune ^ | June 7, 2012 | RAMIT PLUSHNICK-MASTI

Posted on 06/07/2012 5:28:32 PM PDT by bgill

The Texas Department of Transportation is considering the move on a portion of state Highway 130 that would run north-south between Austin and Seguin, a town just east of San Antonio, spokesman Mark Cross said Thursday.

The agency is looking at the toll road's topography, checking what speed most drivers are traveling on existing parts of the highway and ensuring the access points and cross-sections would still be safe with an 85 mph speed limit, Cross said.

(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: 85mph; speedlimit; texas; tollroad
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To: bgill
Well, all-rightie now!

Of course, it's only fair that they limit drivers to those who can pass an eyesight and reaction-time test, and whose vehicles are stable at a minimum of 100 MPH.

You'd be surprised how many "road-worthy" cars go unstable above 100MPH.

And at how many licensed drivers can't see and/or have lousy reaction time.

21 posted on 06/07/2012 6:29:58 PM PDT by dayglored (Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government!)
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To: snoringbear

whatever

You must ride an antique 74 inch shovel head with a kick starter and a 4 speed tranny.


22 posted on 06/07/2012 6:30:58 PM PDT by mamelukesabre
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To: bgill
Whatta laugh.

I-10 had an 85 mph limit from Buckeye to the California border in the 1960s and it wasn't changed until Nixon imposed the idiot double nickle limit in 1973.

23 posted on 06/07/2012 6:40:04 PM PDT by Regulator
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To: truth_seeker

good point, but if you are getting passed on the right, maybe you need to move over to the right lane. Simple. I follow the rule of stay to the right most of the time and only use the left lane to pass. Too bad more people didn’t follow this rule. Nothing worse than mindless drivers pacing each other at 65mph backing up traffic wanting to do 80-90 when one could pass and then get the heck over to the right. It’s like these drivers are oblivious. Don’t they look in their rear view mirror?


24 posted on 06/07/2012 6:41:12 PM PDT by Blue Highway
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To: Blue Highway

In some states they will get a ticket for doing that.


25 posted on 06/07/2012 6:44:02 PM PDT by mamelukesabre
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To: cicero2k
I remember doing about 80 in my Mazda pickup through Texas. Back in the 80's, though, two-lane, no one else around, and I was young. Porsche went past me like I was standing still. ZOOOM! and I could tell he was coasting as he approached the rise ahead of us.

Took me a few minutes to get to the top of the rise....and then out in front of me, there was miles and miles of highway.....and he was gone. Nowhere in sight.

That was spooky. He must have had it to the floor.

26 posted on 06/07/2012 6:47:52 PM PDT by FlyVet
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To: bgill

85? What is TX DPS going to do to slow them to that speed?? Last time I drove that stretch of road, I was doing 75 and 18 wheelers were blowing my doors off as per the CB speak.


27 posted on 06/07/2012 6:48:30 PM PDT by Arrowhead1952 (It's time to take out the trash in DC.)
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To: Arrowhead1952
What is TX DPS going to do to slow them to that speed??

Ummm...slow down themselves?

I damn near got blown off the road going from Austin to Fredericksburg in the 1970s by a TDPS cruiser that blew by me (I was doing 70 in a 55) doing I dunno...90???

Saw him a bit later pulled into a truck stop having lunch.

Gotta luv Texas highways.

28 posted on 06/07/2012 6:59:05 PM PDT by Regulator
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To: bgill
In 1969. I covered the roughly 220 miles from Clovis, NM to Albuquerque, NM on 2 lane roads in 1 hour 45 minutes in a Hurst/Olds 442; slowing down for towns and traffic. Cars have much better suspensions and brakes these days. You figure it out.

I'm still alive, so are my 3 passengers and nobody I encountered on the way suffered in any way.

29 posted on 06/07/2012 7:22:55 PM PDT by elkfersupper ( Member of the Original Defiant Class)
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To: Regulator

I 44 east of Tulsa is good road and fast.

A year ago, I had just passed a big semi doing 80 + and was doing close to 85 when a pair of Oklahoma Highway Patrolmen came up behind me with lights blazing at 100 or just over.

I’m in Tulsa from time to time and 85 is SOP on I-44 in Oklahoma...


30 posted on 06/07/2012 7:29:22 PM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: Blue Highway
I hate that.

I have been known to either split the lanes and pass between them or go around them on the shoulder or in the ditch.

Invariably, they are either too old and cranky or too recently from a country with no traffic conventions at all to be driving anyway.

31 posted on 06/07/2012 7:30:54 PM PDT by elkfersupper ( Member of the Original Defiant Class)
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To: 05 Mustang GT Rocks

I lived in Italy for 3.5 years and drove 100+ routinely on the autostrada and similar roads. It was really not that big of a deal, however all I did was drive I did nothing else. I did it with the family in the car all of the time. In fact I got grief for slowing below 100 a few times.


32 posted on 06/07/2012 7:43:31 PM PDT by phormer phrog phlyer
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To: 05 Mustang GT Rocks

Correct...if you have never driven to El Paso you will pray for an 85 MPH speed limit within an hour of driving. For those of you against it it is not manidatory to drive 85, stay in the right lane and enjoy the trip.


33 posted on 06/07/2012 7:45:33 PM PDT by JohnD9207 (Mitt better grow a pair or this thing will be over soon.)
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To: Blue Highway
good point, but if you are getting passed on the right, maybe you need to move over to the right lane. Simple. I follow the rule of stay to the right most of the time and only use the left lane to pass. Too bad more people didn’t follow this rule. Nothing worse than mindless drivers pacing each other at 65mph backing up traffic wanting to do 80-90 when one could pass and then get the heck over to the right. It’s like these drivers are oblivious. Don’t they look in their rear view mirror?

That's what I dealt with a few weeks ago while driving back to DFW from San Antonio on I-35, it was very frustrating.

34 posted on 06/07/2012 7:50:40 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: HiTech RedNeck

When I was in Germany fifteen years ago, the insurance policy offered less protection above 130 klicks. So you were on your own dime if you decided to travel at, say, 200. I once took a trip with a guy driving a Beamer. He was on the Autobahn going toward Trier at 180. Ok, except that he had this habit of talking with both hands.


35 posted on 06/07/2012 8:01:42 PM PDT by RobbyS (Christus rex.)
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To: Melas

Well, I have had a chance to see what a “street legal” (no harley tax paid, wink wink) 883 does on the interstate. Pushing that puppy up to 70 is a fair challenge. 85, forget it. It ain’t a matter of stability — it felt to me like it was sitting in a parking lot — it’s a matter of oomph. Change the bike to a racing configuration and it’s a whole different story.


36 posted on 06/07/2012 8:04:09 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Let me ABOs run loose Lou!)
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To: bgill
I suppose they haven't considered the congestion caused by all the emergency vehicles and lane closures for all the accidents. People always push the limit so we're looking at 95-100 mph crashes. The EMS better stock up on body bags.

You young guys, and I can tell you are young, should look at history before making statements such as the above. Back in the day, before the phony oil crisis of the 70s, Texas had no speed limit at all and I believe their accident rate was no worse than any other state.

37 posted on 06/07/2012 8:11:41 PM PDT by calex59
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To: bgill

The Trans Texas Autobahn. I LIKE IT!


38 posted on 06/07/2012 9:05:12 PM PDT by Freedom_Is_Not_Free
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To: bgill

I would love to see Joan Claybrook’s face if she goes to Texas and has to drive !


39 posted on 06/07/2012 9:10:37 PM PDT by CORedneck
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To: elkfersupper

I deal with drivers like this every morning going to work. I can’t even blame it on tourists as they are from Florida themselves.


40 posted on 06/07/2012 9:16:08 PM PDT by Blue Highway
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