Increase the speed limits on I-70 and I-35 to 75 mph? (Topeka: estate, vacation)

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by northbayeric

Once again, thanks for the info, Plains10! Except for my drive in NE Kansas this past September, my only other experience driving through Kansas was on westbound I-70 back in 1986 when moving from Missouri here to CA. We didn't get to do any exploring off the interstate then.

I'll have to go to Google Images and the Flickr website and check for pictures of these two areas. I've heard of the Flint Hills--looks like they're between Topeka and Salina and run from the northern to the southern border--but not the Smoky Hill region. I don't think I'd want to live in NW Kansas, but it would be an interesting visit. Here's a website from the Kansas Geological Survey that gives some good info: http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Extension/smoky/smoky.html. Looks like the region takes up much of north central Kansas. This would be a good way to spend a three- or four-day weekend once we're settled in St. Joseph, MO.

A great way to see the heart of the Flint Hills is to take the Kansas Turnpike between Wichita and Emporia. The turnpike then goes right to Topeka.

[AZ_680]

I agree that the speed limit ought to be increased, especially on such a through-route as I-70 in Kansas -- and on a side note, I think that every western and Great Plains state should follow in West Texas' footsteps and put those Speed Limit 80 signs up!

[Kanza]

I agree with alot of the post on her, but what you have to understand Kansas is a farm state. That means there are kids on these highways 14,15, and 16 years of age legally. Back in tet68 the speed limit was higher to many accidents. It really dosent matter anyway, the cops wont stop you unless your 11 mph over the speed limit usually. Its a persons choice to speed or not to speed.

[brandikay]

I love the speed limits in KS because I live in PA now, (raised in KS) I drive to work (45miles oneway)using a 4 lane highway and the speed limit is 55. Talk about a shock to the system. Believe me I love to drive fast also, but since there are others on the road besides just me I go the speed limit. I sure would hate to have to do a quick stop going 70 because there is a tractor in my lane. But thats how life is in the beautiful state of KS. Be safe and take care.

[straw hat]

“If it were increased, Kansas would experience likely more commercial growth and traffic.” So you all think that roads grow on trees. The only growth would be the bill to fix the highways. A bill paid for by the landowners of Kansas. If you think that the tax on gasoline pays to fix roads think again. Most of the repair bills are paid by property taxes and car tag taxes. What makes you think that the people paying those taxes want more people tearing up our roads? People are leaving Kansas’s farms fast enough. The speed limits are just fine. If we wanted to raise the speed limits we could write to our elected officials and request the higher speed limit. Commercial growth do we really need to have a fast food shop every 100 miles?

[dr. kenneth noisewater]

Originally Posted by AZ_680

I agree that the speed limit ought to be increased, especially on such a through-route as I-70 in Kansas -- and on a side note, I think that every western and Great Plains state should follow in West Texas' footsteps and put those Speed Limit 80 signs up!

preach on, brotherman! 80 mph is the way to go - i pretty much do 80 whenever i think i can get away with it anyway and i could do 90 w/o breaking a sweat if i wasn't worried about getting pulled over.

i realize that there are slowpokes and trucks out there, so i take care when passing people and give myself plenty of room to make a pass. it's not like there's major traffic to contend with; using appropriate caution, 80 mph is a walk in the park.

and i must reiterate the point about taking 2-lane highways if you want to enjoy the scenery. us 40 shadows i-70 for a good chunk of the state - take that if you want to smell the roses and leave the interstate to the people who have places to be. i've driven i-70 so many times; i've probably made the hays-kc round trip 100 times, so i think i've seen what there is to see and most of the time i need to get where i'm going.

as for us 54, i believe that's the one that runs from minneola south of dodge city through hooker, ok (love that town name), dalhart, tx and ending on i-40 in tucumcari, nm. it was a great time-saver for me when i went to california last fall. i believe it's 65 mph thru kansas with a few stretches of 70 mph and 4-lane highway in ok, and 70 mph in texas b4 inexplicably slowing back down to 65 in nm. i think it would pay off to head west from wichita and hop on 54 in sw kansas, but i would definitely mapquest it and the i-35 to okc to i-40 route just to be sure. you do have to slow down for several towns, so if you just want to drive and not think, take interstate.

and i also agree w/ whoever said i-40 is non-stop truck traffic, especially from albuquerque to cali. good lord.

[bjmkw23580]

Four-lane divided with limited access (requires onramps to get on) can easily be 75, with the exception of keeping speeds slower (like 65) through cities due the number of exits within close proximity.

I go 80 on the turnpike anyway and still get passed. It hardly ever seems to be patrolled, but I sometimes notice hypo's masquerading near those rest stops, so I slow down near those. If anyone's pulled over, it's usually a semi or some other large load being inspected or something.

Just don't speed in Saline or Ellsworth Counties. Holy crap.

And isn't Kansas the third most traveled through state? Because it's in the middle. Change it to 75. Because I said so.

[NightHawk112005]

I agree that Kansas should have a 75 mph speed limit on I-70 west of Topeka and in other rural areas, there's no real reason not to. A 70 mph limit is fine around Topeka, Lawrence, KCK and Wichita. Of course, that doesn't stop me from going 80 the whole way, which I did when driving to Manhattan in the fall. It was probably because the weather was beautiful, but that was quite a pleasant drive.

[kansasn]

Ya'll do realize that EPA Estimated MPG is based off of 55 MPH, right?

Let me get one this out, I am as Right as they come; however, if I also opt to save every penny I can. I choose to drive 65 MPH on I-70 between Salina and Lawrence. As a result [I used to go 78 MPH], I have increase my MPG by 5.

On 18 gallons [my tank] that is 90 extra miles per fill up.

Every penny counts, especially when gas is $3.79/gallon.

kansasn

[RangerDuke08]

You guys sure have a lot of cops along that I-70 stretch. Watch out. The only points in Colorado that have state trooper is probably one at the KS/CO border and then maybe a handful at the foothills near lookout mountain/evergreen then your clear all the way to Utah.