A 41-mile stretch of toll road in central Texas will soon offer the fastest speed limit in the nation, but the state trucking association says truck drivers probably won't be big customers.


The I>Texas Tribune reports that John Esparza, president of the Texas Motor Transportation Association, says the 85-mph speed limit will deter trucks from using the new toll road.

The Texas Department of Transportation believes the higher speed limit on the portion of State Highway 130 from Austin to Seguin will lure drivers away from more congested highways.

However, Esparza told the paper, most trucking companies try to keep drivers from traveling faster than that speed, both out of concerns for safety and because it affects fuel mileage.

The American Trucking Associations has urged the Texas Transportation Commission to reverse its decision on the 85 mph speed limit for the new toll road.

However, state DOT spokeswoman Veronica Beyer told the paper that on a portion of SH 130 that is already open to traffic, which has had an 80 mph speed limit since April, the number of vehicles with three or more axles has increased slightly.

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9/11/2012 - Texas Moves Ahead With 85 mph; ATA Announces Opposition