The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has asked EPA for permission to replace the 55-mph speed limit on Houston area highways with limits of 60 mph and 65 mph for all vehicles.
The speed limit had been lowered to 55 mph in May in attempt to help bring the Houston-Galveston region into compliance with federal health standards by 2007, according to an Associated Press story.
After the lower speed limits had been written into the plan to clean up the air in the Houston area, EPA data was released that showed cars and light trucks traveling 55 mph did not significantly reduce smog producing nitrogen oxide emissions.
Already under intense pressure from state and local officials, the agency in June approved a recommendation to roll back the 55 mph limit for cars and light trucks, but left it in place for heavy vehicles.
Now, under the proposal sent to the EPA, speed limits on roads with 70-mph limits before the 55-mph limit took effect would be set at 65 mph. Roads with limits of 65 mph before the 55-mph limit took effect would be set at 60 mph.
In 2005, the speed limit would revert to 55 mph in the eight-county region unless other emission reductions were made, according to the proposal.
Safety concerns and lingering questions about the legality of a dual speed limit prompted the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to scrap the dual-speed limit plan, commission executive director Jeff Saitas said.
The EPA did not immediately comment on the proposed change.
The speed limit had been lowered to 55 mph in May in attempt to help bring the Houston-Galveston region into compliance with federal health standards by 2007, according to an Associated Press story.
After the lower speed limits had been written into the plan to clean up the air in the Houston area, EPA data was released that showed cars and light trucks traveling 55 mph did not significantly reduce smog producing nitrogen oxide emissions.
Already under intense pressure from state and local officials, the agency in June approved a recommendation to roll back the 55 mph limit for cars and light trucks, but left it in place for heavy vehicles.
Now, under the proposal sent to the EPA, speed limits on roads with 70-mph limits before the 55-mph limit took effect would be set at 65 mph. Roads with limits of 65 mph before the 55-mph limit took effect would be set at 60 mph.
In 2005, the speed limit would revert to 55 mph in the eight-county region unless other emission reductions were made, according to the proposal.
Safety concerns and lingering questions about the legality of a dual speed limit prompted the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to scrap the dual-speed limit plan, commission executive director Jeff Saitas said.
The EPA did not immediately comment on the proposed change.
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