GILLESPIE COUNTY, Texas -- The Texas Department of Transportation said Tuesday it has tentatively approved a reduction in the speed limit along a stretch of U.S. 290 in Gillespie County.
Gillespie County covers the Fredericksburg area, about 250 miles northwest of Houston.
If approved by the Texas Transportation Commission, the speed limit between Fredericksburg and Stonewall could be reduced from 70 mph to 60 mph.
TxDOT said a speed study was requested after a Dec. 3 crash that killed four people, and that a vote on the proposal is expected to be taken in January.
“Safety is our number one priority at TxDOT,” said Terry McCoy, Austin District Engineer. “Because of that, we moved very quickly on the speed study.”
According to TxDOT, speed limits are set by the 85th percentile method, which is “the speed the majority of drivers will be traveling at or below.” GO HERE to learn more about speed zone studies.
If the speed reduction is approved, TxDOT said the new speed limit signs would be installed as quickly as possible. In addition, TxDOT is considering a proposal to widen and improve U.S. 290 to include a center turn lane.
