New state speed limit policy may allow drivers to go faster

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BY NANCY HICKS / Lincoln Journal Star

The speed limit on many state highways will edge upward, based on a new state speed limit policy.

The proposed policy, presented Friday to the Nebraska Highway Commission, will have the greatest impact on the 1,163 miles of state highway posted at 55 mph, said Dan Waddle, with the Nebraska Department of Roads.

The agency will likely raise the limit to 60 — or even 65 — on about 80 percent of those highways, he said.

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(LJS File)

(LJS File)

The policy loosens requirements for speed limit decisions, giving greater weight to keeping speed limits consistent along stretches of highways, said Alan Swanson, a roads department employee who helped write the new policy.

Several highway commissioners representing rural areas have argued for greater speed consistency for several years, pointing to higher and consistent speed limits in neighboring states.

“I drive a lot in other states, Wyoming, Colorado, Texas,” said Doug Leafgreen of Bridgeport. And they have 65 mph speed limits on two-lane roads, he said.

“I get into Nebraska and the speed limits are 55, 60, 65. There doesn’t seem to be any consistency,” he said during Friday’s meeting.

“It seems like we are stuck back 50 years ago on our speed limits,” he said.

The proposed policy eliminates the requirement that county boards must agree with the speed limit, assuring the state Department of Roads has the sole authority to set speed limits.

The policy also changes other factors, including shoulder width requirements, giving the state agency more discretion.

Rather than reduce speed, the state may put up warning signs along some highway stretches to make drivers aware of potential safety issues, said Swanson.

These include yellow diamond signs that say “limited sight distance” or “hill blocks view” and square yellow advisory signs giving a suggested lower speed limit that isn’t the official limit.

“That (advisory speed limit sign) means you can’t get a ticket, but you should pay attention,” said Commissioner Donna Wanitschke. Greater weight will also be given to the actual speed people are driving, according to a presentation by Swanson.

Consistency is the goal, while keeping safety in mind, said Monty Fredrickson, the department’s deputy director for engineering.

The agency cannot raise the speed limit to 70 mph on two-lane roads because state law sets the top limit at to Waddle said.

Commissioner Wanitschke of Grand Island said she gets complaints from drivers about the changing speeds on U.S. 81 south of York.

When you cross the Kansas border to Nebraska, the limit goes from 70 mph in Kansas to 55 mph in Nebraska, she said.

Drivers also don’t understand the lower speed limits on the rural bypasses around several communities, including McCool Junction, Hebron and Geneva, she said.

Those lower speed limits were set after several fatalities occurred after the four-lane highway opened, Fredrickson said.

Inexperience with the new road were likely the cause of those early accidents, said Laura Lenzen, with the department.

“It was the learning curve in using those four-lane expressways,” she said.

The state will continue to look at traditional factors like accident history and roadway design during speed limit analysis.

Agency leaders will likely approve the new policy in the next month, and the agency will begin reevaluating limits, Swanson said.

Reach Nancy Hicks at 473-7250 or nhicks@journalstar.com.