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Columbus Dispatch
Freeway speed
limits may increase to 70 mph
By Jim Siegel
Monday March 11
From the Dayton Business Journal
The speed limit on many of Ohio’s freeways would increase to 70 mph
under changes to the state transportation budget made today by a Senate
committee.
As of last year, 35 states, including West Virginia, Indiana, Michigan
and Kentucky, had posted speed limits at or exceeding 70 mph on some
segments of their road systems. The Ohio Turnpike, which is run
independently, raised its speed limit to 70 mph in 2011.
Under the provision, the 70 mph limit would apply to freeways outside
of urban areas. It sets the maximum speed for urban freeway outerbelts
at 65 mph, and 55 mph in congested areas as determined by the
Department of Transportation.
The bill specifies that the intent is not to lower the speed limit on
any freeway.
The Senate Transportation Committee is likely to approve the
transportation budget on Tuesday. Today it accepted a variety of
changes to the proposal, including merging the governor’s proposed
turnpike plan into the bill.
In an effort to ease concerns in northern Ohio that money generated
from Gov. John Kasich’s plan to sell $1.5 billion in bonds backed by
future Ohio Turnpike revenue would not be diverted elsewehere, senators
added an amendment to the budget that would ensure at least 90 percent
of funds must be spent within 75 miles of the Turnpike...
Read the rest of the article at the Columbus Dispatch
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