Bill Raises Maximum Speed Limit in Pennsylvania to 70

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) issued the following statement regarding his proposal to increase the maximum speed limit on Pennsylvania interstate highways and the Pennsylvania Turnpike being included in the Transportation Funding Reform Package: 

Today’s Senate passage of the transportation funding reform package is a tremendous achievement for Pennsylvania residents and will strengthen our transportation infrastructure.  In addition to providing critical funding for transportation initiatives across the Commonwealth, House Bill 1060 will allow for increasing Pennsylvania’s maximum speed limit.

The transportation package includes language taken from my Senate Bill 1170, and will allow an increase of the maximum speed limit on Pennsylvania interstate highways and the Pennsylvania Turnpike from 65 to 70 miles per hour.  This is an important step forward for our Commonwealth and will let Pennsylvania join the 34 other states across the United States who already allow for speeds of 70 MPH and higher. 

The timing of the speed limit increase is both acceptable and necessary to include as a part of the transportation plan, in light of the significant amount of funding being invested in transportation infrastructure across the state.  Our bridges and roads are going to be far more structurally sound and capable of allowing vehicles to travel safely at a slightly higher speed. 

Safety of our roads is a chief priority of the transportation package and raising of the speed limit will take place only after required engineering and traffic studies are conducted by PennDOT and the Turnpike Commission.  This responsible approach to increasing Pennsylvania’s maximum speed limit on interstate highways and the PA Turnpike will allow for better traffic flow and provide for greater efficiency in the delivery of goods and services throughout the Commonwealth.