Perry: UDOT may get more power to adjust speed limits

In this undated photo provided by the Utah Department of Transportation a worker installs a highway sign. Utah is increasing the speed limit to 80 mph on several stretches of highways around the state. The state legislature approved the new, faster zones during the last session. The change was spurred by a Utah Department of Transportation study that found that fewer crashes occurred on the existing stretches of highway with 80 mph speed limits. The new fast zones include Interstate 80 from the Nevada border to Utah Route 36 in eastern Utah and Interstate 15 from Brigham City to the Idaho border in northern Utah. Speeds will also be increased on Interstate 15 between Santaquin and North Leeds in central-southern Utah. The 75 mph zones remain on that stretch through two mountain passes and Cedar City. (AP Photo/Utah Department of Transportation)

Clean air, gay rights, gun rights are some of the major topics expected to come up in the 2014 session of the Utah Legislature that opens today on Capitol Hill. Although it seems like many bills are passed during all of the legislative sessions, one representative says that really isn’t so.

State Representative Lee Perry, R-District 29, said often it’s just that changes are made to existing bills hopefully to make the bills better. On <a href=”http://610kvnu.com/assets/podcaster/328/2014_01_24_328_18333_2867.mp3″ target=”_blank”>KVNU’s Crosstalk program</a>, Perry said one example is speed limit bills.

“I think we’ll probably see a bill passed this year that gives more power to UDOT to change speed limits in places where it needs to be changed,” Perry explained. “I think what you’re going to see is an 80 mph speed limit on I-70 when we’re all done.

“I don’t suspect you’ll see 80 mph speed limits through Salt Lake County.”

Although Rep. Perry is a high-ranking Utah Highway Patrol officer, he said he is not certain speed limit bills need to be changed.

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