PennDot Sets 70 MPH Speed Limit on Some Highways

Coming to a highway near you — a new 70 mph speed limit.

In a move that PennDot says will make travel “more efficient” a pilot program is phasing in 70 mph speed limits on sections of three Pennsylvania interstate highways — including the stretch of I-80 that passes through Centre County.

On Wednesday, the speed limit on section of the Pennsylvania Turnpike was raised from 65 to 70 mph.

The higher speed limit is now in effect on a nearly 100 mile stretch of the turnpike, from Blue Mountain (Interchange 201) to Morgantown (Interchange 298).

Closer to home, PennDot says it will raise the speed limit on I-80 to 70 mph beginning the week of Aug. 11.

A 21 mile chunk of I-380 in Lackawanna County will also see the speed limit go to 70. Drivers are being reminded that 70 mph is the maximum speed — not the mandatory speed — and that speeding is dangerous.

Once the higher speed limit is evaluated it’s likely that additional speed limit increases will be approved on highways across the state.

“After thorough analysis and reviewing other states’ practices, PennDOT is piloting this speed limit so we can use the data to determine where else the maximum speed could be increased,” State Transportation Secretary and Turnpike Commissioner Barry J. Schoch says in a news release.

PennDot says additional speed limit changes could be in place by next spring.

Legislation to raise the speed limit was passed by the General Assembly last fall.