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Texas says: "Step on the gas pedal!'

GasBuddy Blog -- Just about any place where people travel in cars the government tells us to slow down, drive safely and you'll conserve gasoline too. But that's not the deal in Texas.

The Lone Star State says "Step on it!" ...And that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Two Central Texas highways will see speed limit increases after the Texas Transportation Commission approved 80 mph designations for 54 miles of roadway in the Austin area. The increased speed limits were approved for segments of SH 130 from Georgetown to Mustang Ridge and SH 45SE from Mustang Ridge to I-35 in Travis County.

The 82nd Texas legislature passed and Texas Governor Rick Perry signed HB 1201 which allows the Texas Dept. of Transportation (TxDOT) to establish...


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Submitted Apr 25, 2012 By: PD
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REPLIES (newest first)
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stonecold5005
All-Star Author Waco

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Message Posted: Jun 25, 2012 8:32:55 AM

ok
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Amendes
Champion Author Fresno

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Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 8:22:27 AM

OK
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stonecold5005
All-Star Author Waco

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Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 8:06:57 AM

ok
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DOMFL
Veteran Author Miami

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Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 7:10:15 AM

yee ha
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clpassenubye
Champion Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: May 25, 2012 11:49:34 AM

Wow
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albert2008
Champion Author Winnipeg

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Message Posted: May 24, 2012 7:54:08 AM

less survivers
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1tallford
Sophomore Author Rhode Island

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Message Posted: May 24, 2012 6:06:22 AM

Finally, ten over will be 90.
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Donatelo
Champion Author Dayton

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Message Posted: May 22, 2012 9:29:48 AM

ok
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albert2008
Champion Author Winnipeg

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Message Posted: May 22, 2012 7:34:32 AM

time will tell
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s6sputnik
Champion Author Austin

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Message Posted: May 19, 2012 11:21:35 PM

Honda ...It is not like we went from 55 to 80! we went from 70 or 75 to 80!
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D61
Rookie Author British Columbia

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Message Posted: May 19, 2012 9:25:04 AM

Good
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studebaker1940
Champion Author Tampa

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Message Posted: May 19, 2012 9:05:45 AM

Look out for Jack Rabbits sleeping on the warm pavement at night
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kirzon484
Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 4:30:51 PM

agree with Go4EVA. better enforcement of minimum speed limits for these roads is needed.
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gawxnative
All-Star Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 2:27:05 PM

They are good where they are needed to keep folks idea of "reasonable and safe" speed in check
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gasokie
Champion Author Oklahoma

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Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:56:32 AM

I hate state speed limits. Highways are constantly being surveyed for safety and I think those same guys should determine what's safe for a particular road. And it should be a much as it can be and remain safe as time is important to most of us.
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drpepperTX
Champion Author Texas

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Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 8:34:09 AM

Actually honda0105, Texans have handled it very well, some parts of the state have had 80 mph limits for years now and TXDOT studies have shown the accident rates have decreased.

[Edited by: drpepperTX at 4/30/2012 9:35:04 AM EST]
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honda0105
Champion Author Tallahassee

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Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 4:47:50 AM

we'll see how many people can drive at that speed after being accustomed to slower speeds. It does take some getting used to higher speeds.
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albert2008
Champion Author Winnipeg

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Message Posted: Apr 29, 2012 8:17:28 AM

now thats different
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honda0105
Champion Author Tallahassee

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Message Posted: Apr 29, 2012 7:03:10 AM

Go4: indeed. And it's worse even when those who want to adhere to 55 on a 70 mph stretch decide they have to stay in the middle of 3 lanes or, even worse, the left lane.
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Go4EVA
Sophomore Author Houston

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Message Posted: Apr 28, 2012 12:01:46 AM

The faster the better, never could get used to 55 mph since all the hwys were 70 here in TX when I was learning to drive in the 70's. At 55, seems like you are crawling and trips take considerably longer.

The problem with faster speed limits are slower drivers who don't keep up with the limits (or want to putt-putt @ 55). Can be very dangerous navigating around slower moving vehicles.
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txrojo2005
All-Star Author Austin

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Message Posted: Apr 27, 2012 5:32:39 PM

These two highways are toll roads circling Austin as a bypass for I-35. Most of the higher speed limits are in west Texas were the roads are straight, flat and boring. Traveling from El Paso to Fort Worth (I-20) or El Paso to San Antonio (I-10) is an all-day event.



[Edited by: txrojo2005 at 4/27/2012 6:34:04 PM EST]
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gasokie
Champion Author Oklahoma

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Message Posted: Apr 27, 2012 3:31:11 PM

I say let Texas do as they wish. It's their call. In 1942 President Roosevelt called the gov of Texas and told him that of the 48 states, Texas was the only one not going to the Wartime speed limit of 35 which FDR had himself ordered and wanted to know when he would ... The governor told FDR "Never" and that it wasn't any of his business what any state set as a speed limit. FDR told the governor that there was a serious war on and he needed to go to 35. The governnor told FDR: "Mr. President, this is Texas. If we drive 35 we'll never get anywhere."
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Donatelo
Champion Author Dayton

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Message Posted: Apr 27, 2012 2:59:20 PM

ok
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puinsai808
Champion Author Honolulu

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Message Posted: Apr 27, 2012 9:46:08 AM

I can't drive 55!
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123cowboy
Champion Author Maine

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Message Posted: Apr 27, 2012 9:31:59 AM

a waste of gas...
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goldseeker
Champion Author West Virginia

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Message Posted: Apr 27, 2012 7:36:50 AM

Figures, as oil companies profits go up.
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snappytom2
Champion Author Corpus Christi

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Message Posted: Apr 26, 2012 10:14:24 PM

Since when have average Texans cared anything about conservation? I mean, we have Texas truck month 12 months a year down hear in the Lone Star State. If you don't have a pickup, you are not qualified to be a goat roper. Well, we don't own a pickup here in Corpus Christi, so I guess that we simply don't qualify to be Texan even though were raised Texan.
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my2002m
Champion Author Tulsa

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Message Posted: Apr 26, 2012 9:21:19 PM

Not good for gas mileage.
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Pete12
Champion Author Albany

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Message Posted: Apr 26, 2012 6:07:22 PM

Many people are not capable of driving safely at 80MPH!
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AnObserver
Champion Author New Jersey

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Message Posted: Apr 26, 2012 4:17:35 PM

I'm OK with 80 mph
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sparky808
Champion Author Honolulu

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Message Posted: Apr 26, 2012 3:48:57 PM

Thank you for posting.
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TXryder
Champion Author Texas

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Message Posted: Apr 26, 2012 3:19:58 PM

Those two highways are toll roads and the only 80mph stretches are rare and in very isolated far reaches. Some of Prick Perry's BS. I rather slow down and save over 10% on my fuel consumption. Stupid politicans
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unicornpmb
Champion Author Buffalo

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Message Posted: Apr 26, 2012 1:18:01 PM

Great, now put up 54 stoplights.
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garman87
Champion Author Austin

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Message Posted: Apr 26, 2012 1:08:26 PM

Put the petal to the metal.
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redtruck01
Champion Author North Carolina

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Message Posted: Apr 26, 2012 1:03:33 PM

Conditions affect speed I will drive safely.
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humblepie
Champion Author Toledo

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Message Posted: Apr 26, 2012 12:58:05 PM

each state has every right to decide their own rules
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CQQKIE
All-Star Author Illinois

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Message Posted: Apr 26, 2012 12:57:21 PM

Maybe a good idea but the P.M. on the car?
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Amanstrom
Champion Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: Apr 26, 2012 12:57:10 PM

Cool
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alchulito
All-Star Author New York

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Message Posted: Apr 26, 2012 12:56:17 PM

Good for them.
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LSU_TIGERS_dmb
Champion Author Louisiana

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Message Posted: Apr 26, 2012 12:55:13 PM

this shows that a Rep gov does the right thing..
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matthwbar
Champion Author Toledo

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Message Posted: Apr 26, 2012 12:54:38 PM

I like it...
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BurtB
Champion Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: Apr 26, 2012 12:52:22 PM

Flat and straight, and long distances between towns.
Makes sense to go faster.
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boldrph
Champion Author Topeka

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Message Posted: Apr 26, 2012 12:50:19 PM

if only we had a decent train system. they can go 200mph
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slowpoke63
Champion Author Louisiana

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Message Posted: Apr 26, 2012 12:50:10 PM

ok
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Alfied
Champion Author Riverside

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Message Posted: Apr 26, 2012 12:49:04 PM

I drive those lonesome roads often. 80 is great, but don't go 81. They'll nail you.
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REVLAW
Champion Author San Antonio

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Message Posted: Apr 26, 2012 12:46:18 PM

80 is typical across IH-10 in Texas. Lot's of wilderness out west. High speeds also along 10 & 25 in New Mexico, and 70 appears the default IH speed in Arizona. Folks that complain haven't lived or driven the wilderness.
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k2kipp
Champion Author Minnesota

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Message Posted: Apr 26, 2012 12:43:48 PM

Gas will cost $10 a gallon by the time I could
afford one of these new fangled cars...
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camel1
Champion Author Minnesota

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Message Posted: Apr 26, 2012 12:41:43 PM

Go Texas! Waste more gasoline driving faster. This will aid your states oil companies.
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straz
Champion Author Pennsylvania

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Message Posted: Apr 26, 2012 12:39:11 PM

Must be fuel isn't expensive enough. 80? That's low MPG
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h2ojumper
Champion Author Austin

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Message Posted: Apr 26, 2012 12:32:52 PM

ok
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