Section 6: Environmental Speed Limits
Introduction
An environmental speed limit is a speed limit created by the
Texas Transportation Commission at the request of the Texas Commission
on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for the purpose of meeting federal
air-quality standards. The TCEQ is the state air-pollution control
agency and is the principal authority in the state on matters relating
to the quality of the state’s air resources.
Existing Environmental Speed Limits
Existing environmental speed limits created at the request
of the TCEQ may be retained on the state highway system until such
time as the TCEQ advises the department in writing that the speed
limit is unnecessary and a speed study performed for the area finds
that the existing environmental speed zone is not reflective of
the 85th percentile speed as determined by procedures detailed in
this manual.
New Environmental Speed Limits Prohibited
As per Transportation Code, §545.353(j), no new environmental
speed limits may be created on the state highway system.