America’s Fastest Highway
Americans are known for often treating speed limits as suggestions. While many factors influence this, there is one stretch of road that literally encourages drivers to step on the gas. This is Texas State Highway 130, the only road in the U.S. where it is legal to reach 85 mph. It is also becoming increasingly attractive to companies testing autonomous freight transportation.
Speed limits are outdated, and we all know it.
The Perfect Proving Ground for Innovation
This little-known 41-mile toll road runs between Austin and Seguin. The 85 mph limit was set back in 2012. Safety advocates, who often blame speed for accidents, are unlikely to find data confirming problems on SH-130. On the contrary, thanks to the high permitted speed and lower traffic, it has turned into an ideal testing ground for autonomous vehicles.
According to data, the SH 130 Concession Company, which manages the highway, is working on creating a next-generation modern rest area,
“designed to serve autonomous trucks with powerful EV charging stations and specific docking requirements.”
Companies such as Einride, Aurora Innovation, and Waymo are already operating autonomous vehicles or plan to do so in the near future.
Permits for Autonomous Trucks
The state DMV will begin accepting applications for commercial authorization for automated vehicles in May of this year. This is a key moment, as it’s not about trucks where a driver must be ready to take over. These are autonomy levels 4 and 5, where a human can fully rely on the technology.
Reality and Prospects
This doesn’t necessarily mean your next trip on TX-130 will be among columns of driverless trucks speeding at 85 mph. Most companies still work with safety drivers in the cab, and fully driverless freight transport remains limited. However, the unique speed limit gives this road something no other American highway can boast — the chance to become a real laboratory for testing the behavior of autonomous trucks at speeds that most states still consider excessive. For over a decade, Texas 130 has been known as America’s fastest highway. Soon, it may also become the smartest. Or at least the most automated.
Maximum Speed Limits in U.S. States
Source: NHTSA
The table below shows the maximum permitted speeds for different types of roads in all U.S. states. The data covers rural and urban interstates, other limited-access roads, and regular roads. For example, in Texas, 75 mph is allowed on rural interstates, with certain sections at 80 or even 85 mph, while the limit on urban interstates is 75 mph. This only emphasizes the uniqueness of the SH-130 section with its record-breaking limit.
The development of autonomous technologies on highways like Texas 130 could become a catalyst for reviewing safety and efficiency standards worldwide. The successful integration of driverless systems under high-speed conditions opens up prospects not only for commercial transportation but also for the future of passenger transport. It also poses new challenges for regulators, who will have to adapt legislation to technologies developing much faster than traditional norms.