Speed limits are changing on a few area roads according to Darah Waldrip, Public Relations Officer of Texas Department of Transportation, Abilene and Brownwood Districts.
The Texas Transportation Commission has approved a lower speed limit on FM 1850 in Brown County. The new speed zone will affect the entire roadway from FM 585 to SH 279.
The Texas Transportation Commission also approved a lower speed limit on FM 574 in Mills County. The new speed zone will affect the roadway from the Goldthwaite city limit west almost 22 miles to County Road 536.
The Commission approved the change in its April 26 meeting after speed studies concluded that the previous 70 mph speed limit warranted a reduction to 60 mph. TxDOT conducted the study in response to a local request.
The new speed limit is effective as soon as signs are posted. TxDOT’s Brown County maintenance office plans to finish installing the signs the first week of May.
Speed limits in Texas are set by the 85th percentile method, which represents the speed the majority of drivers are traveling at or below. This engineering principle has been used to set speed limits on highways nationwide for the past 60 years. For more information on speed limits see: http://www.txdot.gov/txdot_library/safety/traffic_safety_pubs.htm
The Brownwood Division of TxDOT serves the counties of Brown, Mills, Coleman, McCullough, San Saba, Lampasas, Eastland and Stephens.
