Texas Opens High-Speed Toll Road
Several interstates have speed limits higher than 65 mph, but Texas has the first 85 mph toll road. The privately owned, 91-mile highway recently opened, giving Texas the fastest highway in the U.S.
The high-speed segment of Texas State Highway 130 stretches between San Antonio and Austin, Texas. The Detroit Bureau reports that it is operated by SH 130 Concession Co., which paid a $100 million fee for the right to set the 85 mph speed limit.
Motorists pay 15 cents per mile to use it and get to bypass the city of Austin, an area typically clogged by traffic. Originally conceived by Texas Gov. Rick Perry, the superhighway is only a fraction of what the governor originally envisioned. Perry's Trans Texas Corridor was to have been a high-speed, privately owned highway across the state. It was pared down to a 91-mile section.
Not everyone is happy about the increased speed limit, however. "The research is clear that when speed limits go up, fatalities go up," Russ Rader, a spokesman for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, said in a statement.
Would you pay a toll to be able to legally drive 85 mph? Tell us in the comments section below.
Related
Nation's Fastest Highway Opens (The Detroit Bureau)
Decade's Worth of Vehicle Fatalities Mapped
More Safety News on Cars.com
Previous
Subscribe to our feed
Email us your tips!
YES!
I completely love the idea. What scares me a bit is other drivers who don't appreciate these speeds. At 85mph everyone needs to follow the basic driving laws (which most don't on highways) such as passing only on the left, and keeping a safe following distance. People need to be focused. Drive with two hands and avoid distractions. No eating, texting, talking on the phone, etc. At 85mph you cover 124 feet per second. This is serious stuff.
I drove the 80mph road once in Utah, and I couldn't even go 80 because some jerk was going slower than the speed limit in the left lane. It caused major backups and tailgating, and was a worse danger than the speed itself.
I hope this is a success and sets a standard for highways across the country.
Where i live, 85 is considered a rather average highway-speed. Nonetheless you should be aware of your surroundings.. By the aay, i am from Germany
If you're driving a competent car, 80 or 85 feels like 50 We drive German and they feel so safe at any speed. i'm curious to know how safe other cars feel at high speeds?
This Highway has been open for a wile now. Liked traveling it, but I did notice my MPGs go way down. I was nice to circumvent the dreaded Austin I35 split even at slower speeds.
Highways were designed for 85mph 50 years ago.
Look at a Popular Mechanics from the late 1950s and see that they had tires that could sustain 120mph at elevated inflation pressures.
If you are paying to use a public road (illegally given to a private company), why is there a speed limit at all?
Why not 100mph day, 80mph night [let us respect the nocturnal animals]