KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas — The Texas Department of Transportation has completed installing new, higher speed-limit signs in Kaufman County.
KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas — The Texas Department of Transportation has completed installing new, higher speed-limit signs in Kaufman County.
The Texas Transportation Commission approved a minute order at their January 29, 2015, meeting in Austin, Texas, which would cancel 2001 legislature to reduce speed limits in north Texas in an effort to reduce vehicle emissions — raising highway speed limits throughout Kaufman County.
Speeds across the state of Texas were reduced in 2001 after the Texas Legislature enacted the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan which, among other things, lowered speed limits in an effort to reduce vehicle emissions.
In September 2012, the Texas Department of Transportation, in conjunction with the North Central Texas Council of Governments and the Commission on Environmental Quality, identified control strategies to mitigate the Environmental Speed Limit implemented by the 2001 legislature.
The Texas Department of Transportation notified municipalities last week the new speed limits signs in Kaufman, Dallas, Rockwall, and Ellis County have been installed. In Kaufman County that includes speed limit signs along U.S. Highway 80, Spur 557, U.S. Highway 175, and Interstate 20.
U.S. Highway 80 from the Dallas-Kaufman County line to Spur 557 has increased to 70 miles per hour — up from 60 miles per hour from the Dallas-Kaufman County line to the eastern city limits of Forney and 65 miles per hour from the eastern city limits of Forney to Spur 557 at the western city limits of Terrell, Texas.
Spur 557, which connects U.S. Highway 80 and Interstate 20 south of Terrell, has increased from 65 miles per hour to 70 miles per hour.
Interstate 20 from the Dallas-Kaufman County line to Spur 557 has increased from 65 miles per hour to 70 miles per hour. From Spur 557 to the Kaufman-Van Zandt County line, the speed increased from 65 miles per hour to 75 miles per hour.
U.S. Highway 175 throughout Kaufman County has increased to 70 miles an hour, up from 60 miles per hour from the Dallas-Kaufman County line to the eastern Crandall city limits and 65 miles an hour east of Crandall to the Kaufman-Van Zandt County line.
Regionally, drivers coming from Dallas County on U.S. Highway 80, U.S. Highway 175, and Interstate 20 can expect to begin traveling at speeds of 70 miles per hour beginning at Interstate 635.
After conducting speed zone studies, the Texas Department of Transportation has concluded the proposed speeds are more “in-line with what drivers are comfortable driving.”
Speed limit signs in Denton County, along Interstate Highway 35 (IH-35), are expected to be completed this week.