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Friday, October 31, 1997

Speeds could be lowered on roads under rule

By PEGGY FIKAC / Associated Press Writer

AUSTIN (AP) -- Texans concerned about road speeds that they think are dangerously high could see them lowered by as much as 12 mph under an emergency rule approved Thursday by the Texas Transportation Commission.

Prompted by a 17.8 percent increase in state traffic fatalities last year -- after the speed limit rose to 70 mph on many roads -- the rule will give Texas Department of Transportation engineers more flexibility in recommending lower speeds to the commission.

The rule won't automatically lower maximum speeds, which must be based on engineering studies and practices. It comes after the agency had 26 meetings around the state to get public input on speed limits.

"What we heard during these meetings is that most Texans generally agree with the higher speed limit, but there are some roadways, particularly narrow rural highways, that we should re-examine," said commission Chairman David Laney.

Carlos Lopez, deputy director of the agency's traffic operations division, said public input varied by region.

"Mainly in West Texas, everything's cool," he said.

But in areas with fewer wide-open spaces and more curves in the roads, more concern was expressed about whether speed limits were too high.

Lopez said the emergency adoption will allow the agency to put the procedures in place right away, and that it will be responsive to the public.

"Our engineers can go out and look at roadways as people call in with maybe some concerns and apply these new procedures as they study the roadways," he said.

Engineers also will look at roads people expressed concern about at the meetings, he said. The commission will make the final determination on a road's speed.

Under previous rules, engineers could recommend that posted speed limits be raised or lowered up to 5 miles per hour from the so-called 85th percentile -- the speed which 85 percent of motorists are traveling at or below.

At locations with a higher-than-average crash rate, the speed could be lowered up to 7 mph.

Under the new rule, speeds still could be raised 5 mph if warranted. But they could be lowered up to 10 mph if there are, for example, pavement widths of 20 feet or less; horizontal or vertical curves; or hidden driveways and other development.

At locations with crash rates higher than the state average, the speed can be lowered by as much as 12 mph.

Changes will be rounded to a number that ends in a 5 or 0. If the 85th percentile speed is 67 mph, for example, the maximum speed on a road might be lowered to 60 mph -- or 55 mph, if it has a high crash rate.

In addition, the emergency rule implements a state law allowing the Transportation Commission, at the request of a county commissioners court, to lower speed limits on farm-to-market or ranch-to-market roads that are 20 feet wide or less. Lopez said the agency would have a public meeting in such cases.

Sen. Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, who sponsored the provision in law, applauded the commission. "I am looking forward to more rational speed limits around the state," he said.

"I certainly like to drive 70 miles per hour on highways that are designed for that speed. But I know that one size does not fit all, and there are some highways on which that's much too fast," he said.

People with a concern about speed limits can contact their Texas Department of Transportation district office, Lopez said. Currently, about 47,000 miles of Texas roadway are at 70 mph, out of a 77,000-mile system.