§ 27-51-215 - Arkansas Primary Highway Network study.
27-51-215. Arkansas Primary Highway Network study.
(a) The State Highway Commission shall conduct a study of the Arkansas Primary Highway Network to determine whether the minimum speed limits and maximum speed limits of the network can be raised in any locations on the network based on the engineering analysis, traffic analysis, and other analysis of characteristics of each location.
(b) (1) The study shall include an impact analysis of raising the minimum speed limits and maximum speed limits in regard to:
(A) Pleasure vehicles licensed under 27-14-601 or similarly licensed vehicles from other states;
(B) Trucks with a gross loaded weight of twenty thousand pounds (20,000 lbs.) or less; and
(C) Trucks with a gross loaded weight of more than twenty thousand pounds (20,000 lbs.).
(2) The impact analysis shall take into consideration the costs and benefits to the citizens of this state, the costs and benefits to the trucking industry, the costs and benefits to the insurance industry, and an explanation of any other costs and benefits that can be ascertained based on the available data.
(c) The study shall also include:
(1) Findings related to the minimum speed limits and maximum speed limits on two-lane highways and four-lane highways in the Arkansas Primary Highway Network; and
(2) Recommendations as to which, if any, vehicles should be exempt from any proposed speed limit changes.
(d) Upon completion of the study, the commission shall increase the speed limit on any two-lane highway or four-lane highway to sixty-five miles per hour (65 m.p.h.) if the findings of the study support the increase on a particular two-lane highway or four-lane highway.
(e) The commission shall prepare its findings and recommendations in a written report and present the report to the Legislative Council on or before September 15, 2008.