Raise Highway Speed Limits

Section 1. Section 1180-a of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 464 of the laws of 2003, is amended to read as follows:

§ 1180-a. Maximum speed limits. 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no city, village, town, county, public authority, division, office or department of the state shall maintain or create (a) any speed limit in excess of fifty-five miles per hour on any road, highway, parkway or bridge or (b) any speed limit on any other portion of a public highway, which is not uniformly applicable to all types of motor vehicles using such portion of highway, if on November first, nineteen hundred seventy-three, such portion of highway had a speed limit which was uniformly applicable to all types of motor vehicles using it; provided however, a lower speed limit may be established for any vehicle operating under a special permit because of any weight or dimension of such vehicle, including any load thereon, and (c) provided further, paragraph (b) of this subdivision shall not apply to any portion of a highway during such time that the condition of the highway, weather, an accident, or other condition creates a temporary hazard to the safety of traffic on such portion of a highway. However, the commissioner of the department of transportation may establish a maximum speed limit [of not more than sixty-five miles per hour] on any state roadway which meets department criteria for such maximum speed in accordance with the following guidelines: (i) seventy-five miles per hour on any interstate highway; (ii) sixty-five miles per hour for all or part of highways that are designated by the department, have at least four lanes of traffic, and have a separation between the roadways moving in opposite

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD09142-01-9

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directions; and (iii) fifty-five miles per hour for all other highways, roads, and streets.

1-a. Any county, through an ordinance or resolution passed by its governing body, may adopt ordinances setting a maximum speed limit on highways, roads, and streets that is lower than the limits established by this section.

2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of subdivision one of this section, upon The Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway as such term is defined in section three hundred fifty-six of the public authorities law, the New York state thruway authority may establish a maximum speed limit of not more than [sixty-five] seventy-five miles per hour provided that such maximum allowable speed limit is established in accordance with all applicable rules and regulations.

3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of subdivision one of this section, upon (a) the southern tier expressway from a point east of the town of Lowman, in the county of Chemung, thence generally westerly to the Pennsylvania border and from the Chemung interchange to New York touring route twenty-six, (b) interstate route eighty-one from the Pennsylvania border in Broome county to the interchange with New York state touring route twelve in Jefferson county, (c) the Adirondack northway portion of interstate route eighty-seven from the interchange with Crescent Road in Saratoga county to the province of Quebec, (d) interstate route eighty-eight from the interchange with New York state touring route three hundred sixty-nine in Broome county to the interchange with interstate route ninety in Schenectady county, (e) interstate route three hundred ninety, known as the Genesee Expressway, from the interchange with the southern tier expressway in Steuben county to the interchange with interstate route four hundred ninety in Monroe county, (f) interstate route four hundred ninety from interstate ninety exit forty-five in Ontario county to the city of Rochester in Monroe county and from interstate ninety exit forty-seven in Genesee county to the city of Rochester in Monroe county, (g) interstate route five hundred ninety from the interchange with interstate route three hundred ninety in Monroe county to the interchange with interstate route four hundred ninety in Monroe county, (h) route seventeen from the interchange with New York touring route three hundred ninety-four to the Pennsylvania border, (i) interstate route four hundred eighty-one from the southerly interchange with interstate route eighty-one in Onondaga county to the northerly interchange with interstate route eighty-one in Onondaga county, (j) New York state touring route four hundred eightyone from the northerly interchange with interstate route eighty-one in Onondaga county to the city of Fulton in Oswego county, (k) interstate ninety from exit eight, in the county of Rensselaer, thence generally easterly to the interchange with the Berkshire section of The Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway, (l) interstate route six hundred ninety, from the city of Syracuse and town of Geddes border, thence generally westerly to the interchange with the New York state thruway, (m) New York state touring route six hundred ninety, from the interchange with the New York state thruway, thence generally westerly to its intersection with New York state touring route forty-eight in the town of Lysander, (n) New York state touring route six hundred ninety-five, from the interchange with interstate route six hundred ninety approximately 2.3 miles to the interchange with New York state touring route five, (o) New York state touring route five from the interchange with New York state touring route six hundred ninety-five approximately 5.0 miles to the interchange with New York state touring route one hundred seventy-four

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in the town of Camillus, and (p) route five hundred thirty-one from the interchange with interstate route four hundred ninety in Monroe county to the interchange with route thirty-six in Monroe county, and (q) United States route two hundred nineteen, from the interchange with Armor Duelles Road in the town of Orchard Park, thence generally southerly to the interchange with New York state route thirty-nine in the town of Concord, the commissioner of the department of transportation may establish a maximum speed limit of not more than [sixty-five] seventy-five miles per hour provided that such maximum allowable speed limit is established in accordance with all applicable rules and regulations.

§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of September next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.