““I Can’t Drive 55”I Can’t Drive 55”

(Highways to Hedonism)(Highways to Hedonism)

US 68 – Speed LimitsUS 68 – Speed Limits• Request by Logan Economic Alliance for Request by Logan Economic Alliance for

Development in February 2011Development in February 2011

• Request for speed limits “higher” than 55 Request for speed limits “higher” than 55 MPHMPH

• Approval of Warren, Logan, Todd, Christian, Approval of Warren, Logan, Todd, Christian, and Trigg County Judge-Executivesand Trigg County Judge-Executives

Reasoning?Reasoning?• Need to reflect high quality and design of corridorNeed to reflect high quality and design of corridor

• ““Lumped” with other lesser roads in 55 MPH categoryLumped” with other lesser roads in 55 MPH category

• Favorably impact mapping calculations (currently 79 Favorably impact mapping calculations (currently 79 to Clarksville)to Clarksville)

• Increase economic activityIncrease economic activity

• Need to identify corridor as connector from I-65 to I-24Need to identify corridor as connector from I-65 to I-24

Cabinet’s Response?Cabinet’s Response?• Division agreed with development groupDivision agreed with development group

• KTC Research (1997) KTC Research (1997) – Suggested 60 MPH was reasonable speed limit for rural, Suggested 60 MPH was reasonable speed limit for rural,

four-lane roadwaysfour-lane roadways– Differential speed limit for trucks and vehiclesDifferential speed limit for trucks and vehicles

• Posted speed limit has nothing to do with design Posted speed limit has nothing to do with design speedspeed

• Normally such roadways are relatively safeNormally such roadways are relatively safe

Not So Fast… Not So Fast… (excuse the pun)(excuse the pun)

• KRS 189.390:KRS 189.390:(5) (b) The alteration of speed limits on state (5) (b) The alteration of speed limits on state highways highways within a city or a county shall not be within a city or a county shall not be effective until effective until the alteration has been approved the alteration has been approved by the secretary of by the secretary of transportation. The transportation. The secretary shall not approve any secretary shall not approve any alteration that alteration that could increase any speed limit could increase any speed limit established by established by subsection (3)(b) or (c) of this section subsection (3)(b) or (c) of this section in excess in excess of fifty-five (55) miles per hour.of fifty-five (55) miles per hour.

2012 Legislative Session2012 Legislative Session

• HB 333 – 60 MPH speed limit on US 68 from HB 333 – 60 MPH speed limit on US 68 from Natcher Parkway to Trigg/Christian County Natcher Parkway to Trigg/Christian County lineline

• HB 376 – 60 MPH speed limit on US 68 from HB 376 – 60 MPH speed limit on US 68 from Natcher Parkway to Marshall/Trigg County line Natcher Parkway to Marshall/Trigg County line

• SB 181 – 65 MPH speed limit on US 68 from SB 181 – 65 MPH speed limit on US 68 from Natcher Parkway to Trigg/Marshall County lineNatcher Parkway to Trigg/Marshall County line

Division’s CommentsDivision’s Comments

• Legislation should establish maximum Legislation should establish maximum speed limit as opposed to posted speed speed limit as opposed to posted speed limitlimit

• Should be modified to apply to all rural, Should be modified to apply to all rural, multi-lane roadwaysmulti-lane roadways

Speed Limit LawSpeed Limit Law• KRS 189.390:KRS 189.390:

(5) (5) (a) A city or a county may by ordinance establish (a) A city or a county may by ordinance establish speed limits within its own jurisdiction, except as speed limits within its own jurisdiction, except as provided in provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection.paragraph (b) of this subsection.

(b) The alteration of speed limits on state highways (b) The alteration of speed limits on state highways within a city or a county shall not be effective until within a city or a county shall not be effective until the the

alteration has been approved by the secretary of alteration has been approved by the secretary of transportation. The secretary shall not approve any transportation. The secretary shall not approve any alteration that could increase any speed limit alteration that could increase any speed limit established by subsection (3)(b) or (c) of this section established by subsection (3)(b) or (c) of this section in in excess of fifty-five (55) miles per hour.excess of fifty-five (55) miles per hour.

Engineering StudyEngineering Study• Approximately 59 total miles through 5 countiesApproximately 59 total miles through 5 counties

• Design Speed – mostly 60 MPHDesign Speed – mostly 60 MPH

• 8585thth Percentile Speeds: Percentile Speeds:– District 1 – 61 to 62.5 MPHDistrict 1 – 61 to 62.5 MPH– District 2 – 61.3 to 65.5 MPHDistrict 2 – 61.3 to 65.5 MPH– District 3 – 64 to 70 MPHDistrict 3 – 64 to 70 MPH

• Crash Data/Critical CRF’s (one-mile segments)Crash Data/Critical CRF’s (one-mile segments)– Trigg County (intersection of KY 181), CRF=1.08Trigg County (intersection of KY 181), CRF=1.08– Logan/Warren County line, CRF=1.21Logan/Warren County line, CRF=1.21

Political CommentsPolitical Comments

• ““We live in God’s country out here, and the We live in God’s country out here, and the faster people can get here, the better for faster people can get here, the better for them.”them.”

• ““This will be good for attracting visitors as This will be good for attracting visitors as well as for economic development…I hope well as for economic development…I hope other communities with a slower speed limit other communities with a slower speed limit will maintain those for the safety of the will maintain those for the safety of the public.”public.”

Topix CommentsTopix Comments• ““This is the dumbest thing the state has done in a long time!” This is the dumbest thing the state has done in a long time!” (Dumb)(Dumb)

• ““Best idea in a long time. There won’t be any problems as long as Best idea in a long time. There won’t be any problems as long as people quit acting like stop signs don’t exist. Might as well make it people quit acting like stop signs don’t exist. Might as well make it 75 that way you don’t have a chance to just limp away.” 75 that way you don’t have a chance to just limp away.” (hell2dano)(hell2dano)

• ““The speed limit has been 65 for a long time, the only people that The speed limit has been 65 for a long time, the only people that didn’t recognize that was the government.” didn’t recognize that was the government.” (Super Nucking Futs)(Super Nucking Futs)

• ““Brashears sucks.” Brashears sucks.” (Man up)(Man up)

• ““Kentucky has lost it, The people that running this state are Kentucky has lost it, The people that running this state are soooooo DUMB!” soooooo DUMB!” (speeding)(speeding)

• ““It Was nice going 70 on that road it gets you where you need to go It Was nice going 70 on that road it gets you where you need to go so much quicker.” so much quicker.” (so right)(so right)

Elves’ CommentsElves’ Comments• ““Increasing the speed limit is just going to allow people to leave Increasing the speed limit is just going to allow people to leave

Logan County more quickly to spend their money in Bowling Green Logan County more quickly to spend their money in Bowling Green instead of our friendly neighborhood small businesses like instead of our friendly neighborhood small businesses like Walmart.” Walmart.” (Elves)(Elves)

• ““Married men will now be tempted to go to strip clubs like Overtime Married men will now be tempted to go to strip clubs like Overtime and Tattle Tales in Bowling Green knowing that they can speed and Tattle Tales in Bowling Green knowing that they can speed back before the rest of the family gets back from Wednesday night back before the rest of the family gets back from Wednesday night church service.” church service.” (Elves)(Elves)

• ““Elves comments may be the dumbest (blank) thing I’ve ever Elves comments may be the dumbest (blank) thing I’ve ever heard. First overtime is far from a strip club and nobody is heard. First overtime is far from a strip club and nobody is speeding to get to tattle tales.” speeding to get to tattle tales.” (smarter than you) (smarter than you)

• ““Every time you pass a speed limit sign now, you’ll see the number Every time you pass a speed limit sign now, you’ll see the number 6, which is the number of Satan!” 6, which is the number of Satan!” (Elves)(Elves)

• ““But that’s no problem, because all these (blank) liberals will just But that’s no problem, because all these (blank) liberals will just raise our taxes to pay for this highway to hedonism!” raise our taxes to pay for this highway to hedonism!” (Elves)(Elves)

What Does This Mean?What Does This Mean?• Cabinet is not interesting in widespread posting Cabinet is not interesting in widespread posting

of 65 MPH speed limitsof 65 MPH speed limits

• US 68 will be the rare caseUS 68 will be the rare case

• Significant support of local officialsSignificant support of local officials

• More than just moving trafficMore than just moving traffic