Ohioans won't be driving 75 mph on turnpike

By Marc Kovac | March 25, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

COLUMBUS

Lawmakers killed a provision that would have allowed drivers to go 75 mph on the turnpike and certain stretches of rural highway.

In its place, a conference committee of the Ohio House and Senate inserted language in the biennial transportation budget to further study higher speed limits.

The $7 billion-plus, two-year spending plan is set for floor votes this week, after the six-member conference committee — three representatives and three senators — approved a final version of the legislation late Tuesday afternoon. The vote was 5-1, with one Democratic member opposing.

The transportation budget outlines spending for the next two fiscal years for the Ohio Department of Transportation and related agencies.

Among other provisions, it would require bureaus of motor vehicles to accept debit or credit cards for in-person license renewals and other transactions by July 2016, abbreviated driver training for anyone 18 or older who fails a road test while seeking a first driver’s license and increased coursework for operators of driver-training schools.

The Ohio Senate added language that would have boosted speed limits on the turnpike and rural highways to 75 mph from 70 mph, two years after the state upped the limit from 65 mph.

That language was removed, but another provision was added for a joint legislative task force to study the potential for raising the speed limits on Ohio roads, among other issues the panel will consider.