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The Bar Is High For New PA 70 Mph Speed Limit

By Tony Romeo

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The state transportation secretary says probably fewer than half of the miles on Pennsylvania's Interstate highways are in line for the new 70 mile an hour speed limit.

The newly minted transportation law allows PennDOT Secretary Barry Schoch, after required safety studies, to raise the maximum speed limit.

But Schoch says for one thing, he won't approve a 70 mile an hour speed limit for short stretches of the Interstates.

"We're not going to go through and let it go up to 70 miles an hour for ten miles and then back down to 65. It'll be for long stretches of segments of roadway,"Schoch says.

Schoch also says he does not intend to opt for the higher limit on Interstates in urban areas where the speed limit is 55.

The Turnpike Commission will decide what stretches of its roads are eligible for the higher speed limit.

A turnpike spokesman also says don't expect the speed limit to jump to 70 for short stretches on its roads, but he says it is possible in urban areas where the roadway is six lanes, such as the main line in the Philadelphia area east of Valley Forge.

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