Arizona Department of Transportation is raising the speed limit to 65 mph on a segment of Interstate 17 in Phoenix.
The speed limit is increasing 10 mph from the Interstate 10 interchange to Peoria Avenue. It is expected to take effect by the end of October after ADOT replaces the 55 mph signs.
In a press release, ADOT said the change is appropriate "since it more closely reflects the speed most people are currently driving and find reasonable." Because more drivers will be traveling closer to the same speed, the agency expects safety along the stretch to improve.
The increase was prompted by Republican lawmakers at the state Capitol who passed legislation. Senate Bill 1102 bill calls for a higher highway speed limit in Arizona counties with a population of 3 million or more.
The change was approved after an independent study and public feedback. ADOT said almost 11,000 responded to a survey about the speed limit, and of those, 75% were in favor raising the speed to 65 mph
More information about how ADOT establishes speed limits is on azdot.gov/SpeedLimits.
