The saying goes that everything is bigger in Texas. This fall that will apply to speed, too.
The Texas Transportation Commission has approved an 85-mph speed limit for a new toll road between Austin and San Antonio. It will be the highest speed limit in the United States, according to local news reports.
The toll road is a 41-mile stretch of Texas State Highway 130 known as Segments 5 and 6, running from Mustang Ridge near Austin to Seguin outside of San Antonio. If motorists drive at the speed limit, they'll cover the 41 miles in less than a half hour.
The 85-mph limit surpasses the current high in the United States, set on portions of Interstate 15 in Utah and sections of I-10 and I-20 in west Texas, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
But are the higher speeds safe?
The Insurance Institute says the higher the speed, the more dangerous for the motorists. Higher speeds limit reaction times, increases braking distances and put stresses on safety equipment in cars and on roads, the institute says.
"There are limits to the amount of crash energy that can be managed by vehicles, restraint systems and roadway hardware such as barriers and crash cushions. The higher the speed, the higher the likelihood that these limits will be exceeded in crashes, limiting the protection available for vehicle occupants," according to the institute's website.
Texas officials say safety won't be compromised by the higher speeds.
"Safety is our top priority and tests have shown the designated speed is a safe one," Mark Cross, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Transportation, is quoted as saying by the Texas Tribune.
The SH 130 Concession Co. which built and will operate the toll road, says motorists bear responsibility for safety.
"We are committed to operating a safe, reliable highway for our customers. On any road, drivers hold the key to safety based on traffic, travel conditions and the capabilities of their own vehicles," the company said in a statement, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Tolls have yet to be set, but whatever they are drivers won't have to slow down to pay them.
"There will be no toll plazas on segments 5 & 6 of SH 130. Tolls will be collected electronically at certain points along the roadway, meaning motorists will not have to slow down or stop. Traffic will be 100% free flowing," according to The SH 130 Concession Co., which was formed by the Spanish construction company Cintra and the Texas company Zachary American Infrastructure.
Officials hope drivers will use the highway to avoid and alleviate congestion on Interstate 35, which the toll road operators say is more congested in the area than at any part in its entire length, from Canada to Mexico.
"We look forward to opening this segment of SH 130, which will help reduce congestion for the Austin-San Antonio corridor by providing Texas drivers and others with an alternate route for traveling through our great state," Cross told the Texas Tribune.
The toll road is required to open by November 11 but may open sooner.
"We are confident we will be open ahead of schedule,” Chris Lippincott, spokesman for the SH 130 Concession Company, told Texas Weekly.
While the higher speed promises quicker trips for drivers, it also means more money into state coffers. The concession company will pay the Texas Department of Transportation a $100 million bonus for the 85-mph limits, the Texas Tribune reported. If the limit had been set at 80 mph, the bonus would have been only $67 million, according to the report.
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. . . and cram 65 people in a 23 capaicty vehicle and let'r rip.
Sure, going 85mph uses more gas. But not that much more. But it saves time (speed limit w/no toll booths) and nowadayds people have even less time than money.
I-35 Between San Antonio and Round Rock already has NO TRUCKS IN LEFT LANE. It helps a bit except that slow drivers now like to drive on the left lane.
good Job. Next idea is to separate from this country and form one independent nation: Texas
That's rotten crazy people who like the speed up... and killing people... I knew justice, polices and doctors would say oh thank you for the money for labors!!!!!!!! Moron laws! The some lawyers are murderers!
@Stunned: How did you get past grade school?
What makes you think he got through grade school.
This commission, that department.. I remember state highways that had no posted limits, it was left to what you could control, being reckless could get you arrested. There weren't as many government agencies to pay off then though.
No disrespect, but Texans are some of the most aggressive drivers in this country. Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Houston, it doesn't matter. Guys driving less than two feet from the car in front of them at 70 mph. This will make those who are already driving 85 mph go that much faster.
I think it's worse in Atlanta, where drivers seem to have a NASCAR mentality.
The toll road won't be opened until November, if you care to research the topic.
November. Just in time for X-Mas shoppers to get to the malls in austin and San Antonio. Too bad Santa isn't brown. Imagine the savings by hiring illegal workers as mall santas.
"What ams for you to be wantings for chreesemass leetle senor?" See? Wouldn't fly. Kids would know not to hire illegals. Would you?
Or we can read the article which states it is required to open by November 11th. The rest of your post is just strange and rambling.
I really doubt higher speeds is more cause for concern then what 65 already does. The problem more lies with people not moving with the flow of traffic in the left lanes and holding people up. When you have 1 inconsiderate person in the left lane, that is far more of a hazard then having higher speeds. With the slower person, everyone in the left lane is going to swerve around them and just create havoc with the other lanes. There really needs to be more enforcement of slower cars being in the left lanes.
Slow traffic should always stay in the right lane. I have seen more accidents from slow drivers in the passing lane than from fast drivers using than lane properly. Slowmo's need to stay to the right.
There is a huge difference between 65 and 85, a third of 65 is 22 rounded, so that's an approximate 30% increase.
The faster a vehicle is traveling it becomes harder to control.
With faster speeds comes greater danger.
There is no doubt about it.
Easy answer: stay off of this road.
Great idea, we didn't have enough people dying in car crashes, this will surely cause less.
Stay off this road then.
Yes, there's a way to save fuel and keep accidents down.
I know, people nowadays are too "busy" so they need to speed.
Compare gas mileage at 55 compared to 65, 75, or 85
Or stay off this road. Simple.
Overeact much? Stop being a hysteric and stay in the right lane. We'll clap our hands if you do. Best thing for you to do would be to stay off the roads alltogerther if you've got the clep.
Higher speeds mean worse fuel economy in cars, which is great for oil and gas companies. With stricter fuel emission standards coming, they have to find ways to make sure cars don't go too long between fill-ups. Profit over safety is priority in this situation. No surprise this is happening in Texas first since oil and gas money can do just about anything it wants here. I expect to see most highway speed limits to go up, heck the state has already raised many highways in Texas to 75mph in large sections. It used to be 65 at night and 70 during the day.
funeral costs will now double and burial insurance rates will triple.
Easy. Don't ride on this road. It's for commuters, not grandmas out for a Sunday ride.
Heck, I was doing 90 on I-75 in north Georgia this morning. It's easy! We don't need no stinkin higher speed limits!! USA! USA!! USA!!!