I'm liking our new Governor.

AzNMpower32 · #1 02-19-2010, 09:43 PM

I'm liking this new governor that we elected last November. First, he makes the common-sense move to reopen all the previously closed rest stops

. Seriously, closed rest-stops screams "we're bankrupt" to visitors.

Now, a bill has passed that raises rural speed limits to 70mph (there already has been a 70-zone on I-85) in Virginia. McDonnell cites it allows Virginians to get to their destinations in a timelier manner. Everyone else knows that we already drive 70+ anyway. But good move making it state-wide, and moving back on par with everyone else in the Southeast. I can't wait to see those signs go up.

WWW.WPCVA.COM

Quote:

Legislation to raise the maximum speed limit to 70 mph on most Virginia highways passed the House and Senate last week.

"The citizens want it," said Del. Charles Poindexter, R-Glade Hill, who voted in favor of the House bill. "They already drive fast and enforcement can't stop it."
Senate Bill 537, sponsored by Sen. Charles Newman, R-Lynchburg, passed by a wide margin and soon after, the House passed HB 856, sponsored by Del. Charles Carrico, R-Galax.

"It makes economic sense, and it applies only to areas where appropriate," Poindexter said.

The new speed limit of 70 mph as stated in the bill's full text, will apply to "interstate highways, multilane, divided, limited access highways and high-occupancy vehicle lanes if the lanes are separated from regular travel lanes. A 60 mph speed limit will still apply on "U.S. Route 29, U.S. Route 58, U.S. Route 360, U.S. route 460, and U.S. Route 17 between Port Royal and Saluda where they are nonlimited access, multilane, divided highways."

motordavid · #2 02-19-2010, 09:50 PM

Good to read, MM...
maybe that "70" will include 2/3 rds of south to north I-81, which in
most minds would be considered "rural", and give the State Revenue
Cops something else to do, instead of pinching tourists at 72...

The re-open the rest stop thing, for any state, is a no brainer and necessary, imo.
BR, mD

Bimmer4125 · #3 02-19-2010, 11:09 PM

We'll trade you NY's current and past governor, plus a big city mayor to be named later for him.........

AzNMpower32 · #4 02-19-2010, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motordavid

Good to read, MM...
maybe that "70" will include 2/3 rds of south to north I-81, which in
most minds would be considered "rural", and give the State Revenue
Cops something else to do, instead of pinching tourists at 72...

The re-open the rest stop thing, for any state, is a no brainer and necessary, imo.
BR, mD

Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure there will still be penny-pinching cops because that's the way our budget works. Y'all in NC pay a much higher sales tax (7,75% versus 5%), a higher petrol tax, higher cigarette taxes, but I guess part of the tradeoff is somehow more gov't services and lax enforcement because the counties can find other ways to raise revenue.

My guess is that rural interstates (I-81, I-64) and US routes with limited-access highways (scattered portions of US 29, 360, 460, and others) will get the uptick. Granted, I pretty much treat those as almost derestricted anyway.

Meiac09 · #5 02-20-2010, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AzNMpower32

Y'all in NC pay a much higher sales tax (7,75% versus 5%), a higher petrol tax, higher cigarette taxes, but I guess part of the tradeoff is somehow more gov't services and lax enforcement because the counties can find other ways to raise revenue.

mmmmm lower enforcement

Reference my status update... OT... I got lost on curvy roads and wound up in Waynesville! Still a ton of snow!