Wisconsin Republicans said they have reached an agreement to increase the speed limit to 70 mph on some stretches of interstates and highways in the state.
The deal is to be voted on by the Senate Transportation Committee on Thursday and then head to the full state Senate next week, clearing the way for the bill to pass the Republican-controlled Legislature after it stalled last session.
Under the agreement, the state Department of Transportation would decide which roads could increase from 65 mph to 70 mph. The speed limit could not be raised on four-lane roadways with at-grade accesses. That means highways and freeways that don't have entrance and exit ramps wouldn't change.
“Actually, believe it or not, it's for safety reasons,” Republican state Rep. Paul Tittl said.
Tittl said he sponsored the bill to raise Wisconsin's interstate highway speed limit to 70 mph.
“The safest roadway is when you can get 85 percent of all people driving all or about the same speed. You actually create a safer roadway,” Tittl said.
“Triple-A's concerns are all about safety and saving lives,” said Pam Moen of Triple A.
Triple A said it's against raising Wisconsin's speed limit because in states like Minnesota and Iowa, raising the speed limit has led to more big trucks being involved in fatal crashes.
“We know by increasing the speed limit we are also going to increase the number of people who are killed and injured every year on Wisconsin roadways,” Moen said.
Supporters of raising the speed limit on freeways said most drivers are already driving over 70. Raising the speed limit is only catching up to what drivers are already doing.
“There was a study done in Missouri and actually people only drove 1 more mile per hour in Missouri when they went from 65 to 70,” Tittl said.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation will have the final say.
Wisconsin is now the only state in the Midwest with a 65 mph maximum speed limit for all roadways.
The deal is to be voted on by the Senate Transportation Committee on Thursday and then head to the full state Senate next week, clearing the way for the bill to pass the Republican-controlled Legislature after it stalled last session.
Under the agreement, the state Department of Transportation would decide which roads could increase from 65 mph to 70 mph. The speed limit could not be raised on four-lane roadways with at-grade accesses. That means highways and freeways that don't have entrance and exit ramps wouldn't change.
“Actually, believe it or not, it's for safety reasons,” Republican state Rep. Paul Tittl said.
Tittl said he sponsored the bill to raise Wisconsin's interstate highway speed limit to 70 mph.
“The safest roadway is when you can get 85 percent of all people driving all or about the same speed. You actually create a safer roadway,” Tittl said.
“Triple-A's concerns are all about safety and saving lives,” said Pam Moen of Triple A.
Triple A said it's against raising Wisconsin's speed limit because in states like Minnesota and Iowa, raising the speed limit has led to more big trucks being involved in fatal crashes.
“We know by increasing the speed limit we are also going to increase the number of people who are killed and injured every year on Wisconsin roadways,” Moen said.
Supporters of raising the speed limit on freeways said most drivers are already driving over 70. Raising the speed limit is only catching up to what drivers are already doing.
“There was a study done in Missouri and actually people only drove 1 more mile per hour in Missouri when they went from 65 to 70,” Tittl said.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation will have the final say.
Wisconsin is now the only state in the Midwest with a 65 mph maximum speed limit for all roadways.
