UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1008
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A JOINT RESOLUTION directing the Transportation Cabinet to study the cost and 1
benefits of increasing the maximum interstate highway speed limit. 2
WHEREAS, on November 28, 1995, the National Highway System Designation 3
Act was signed into law. It repealed the requirement that states, as a condition of 4
receiving federal-aid highway assistance, adhere to a national maximum speed limit of 65 5
miles per hour; 6
WHEREAS, states now have the power to set maximum speed limits on interstate 7
highways within their borders; 8
WHEREAS, 18 states have set maximum interstate speed limits over 70 miles per 9
hour; 10
WHEREAS, rural states and areas are more likely to have higher maximum speed 11
limits on interstate highways, and most of Kentucky's interstate highways traverse rural 12
areas; 13
WHEREAS, increasing the maximum speed limit has the potential to make travel 14
easier for Kentucky's motorists; and 15
WHEREAS, any potential change in the maximum speed limit should be studied by 16
professional engineers; 17
NOW, THEREFORE, 18
Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 19
Section 1. The Transportation Cabinet is directed to study the cost and benefits 20
of increasing the maximum interstate highway speed limit. 21
Section 2. At a minimum, the study shall: 22
(1) Determine current average speeds on Kentucky interstate highways; 23
(2) Analyze the effect of increased maximum speed limits on traffic congestion, 24
motor vehicle collisions, and passenger injuries and fatalities; and 25
(3) Identify potential sections of Kentucky's interstate system for which an 26
increased maximum speed limit is appropriate. 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1008
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Section 3. The Transportation Cabinet shall make a recommendation regarding 1
increasing speed limits on interstate highways to the Interim Joint Committee on 2
Transportation by December 1, 2025. 3