Oregon may continue to be the only Western state with a speed limit below 70 mph.
A bill that would allow the state Department of Transportation to raise the speed limit to 70 mph from its current 65 mph on some rural stretches of Interstates 5 and 84 is on a list of bills Gov. John Kitzhaber is considering vetoing.
According to published reports, the governor is concerned about whether the Legislature provided enough additional state troopers to raise the speed limit safely.
The sponsor of the bill noted that the measure originally called for raising the speed limit to 75 mph. The 70-mph number was a compromise reached with the governor's office.
Supporters say traffic is already driving 70 mph and the new speed limit would be more reasonable. Kitzhaber, however, is concerned that people will just drive even faster.
Kitzhaber has until Friday to sign or veto the bill and a number of others on his potential veto list. The governor earned the nickname "Dr. No" for the large number of bills he has vetoed in the past.
A bill that would allow the state Department of Transportation to raise the speed limit to 70 mph from its current 65 mph on some rural stretches of Interstates 5 and 84 is on a list of bills Gov. John Kitzhaber is considering vetoing.
According to published reports, the governor is concerned about whether the Legislature provided enough additional state troopers to raise the speed limit safely.
The sponsor of the bill noted that the measure originally called for raising the speed limit to 75 mph. The 70-mph number was a compromise reached with the governor's office.
Supporters say traffic is already driving 70 mph and the new speed limit would be more reasonable. Kitzhaber, however, is concerned that people will just drive even faster.
Kitzhaber has until Friday to sign or veto the bill and a number of others on his potential veto list. The governor earned the nickname "Dr. No" for the large number of bills he has vetoed in the past.
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