Governor signs Schmick bill to raise speed limit on I-90

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 22, 2015

CONTACT: Brendon Wold, Deputy Communications Director - (360) 786-7698

Governor signs Schmick bill to raise speed limit on I-90

Drivers passing through certain parts of I-90 in Eastern Washington could soon make it to their destinations a little faster after legislation increasing the maximum speed limit to 75 miles per hour was signed into law today by Gov. Jay Inslee.

House Bill 2181, sponsored by Rep. Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, allows the state Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to increase the speed limit on any state highway to 75 miles per hour.

"Anyone who's travelled I-90 in certain parts of Eastern Washington knows that 75 miles per hour is a safe speed for most vehicles," said Schmick. "The road is in good condition, the flat and straight stretches make visibility good, and the sparse traffic make for extremely safe driving conditions. The Department of Transportation will look into the prospects for raising the speed limit on certain stretches, but I anticipate we'll see some changes soon."

Current state law generally sets the maximum speed limit for city and town streets at 25 miles per hour, county roads at 50 miles per hour, and state highways at 60 miles per hour. The Secretary of WSDOT may decrease or increase the maximum speed on any segment of a highway, based on engineering and traffic studies that place a high value on safety. However, the maximum speed limit for any highway under current law is 70 miles per hour.

Schmick's bill goes into effect 90 days after the end of the 2015 regular legislative session, scheduled to end on Sunday, April 26.

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For more information about Rep. Schmick, visit: www.representativejoeschmick.com.

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