Poughkeepsie, Your Speed Limits Are Too Low

Poughkeepsie. Your Speed Limits Are Too Low!

Now I understand surface street speed limits, especially with your roads' wacky left, right, left, and right stairway setup. I don’t fully understand why none of the roads are straight. But my friend Ryan already tackled that subject.

My frustration stems from the fact that the two roads I frequently travel on, the Taconic State Parkway and Route 9, have speed limits that I find unreasonably low. These are limits that I often exceed, but I would feel much more comfortable if they were higher. Increasing the speed limits could potentially reduce travel time, making these routes more efficient for everyone.

The first culprit is the Taconic State Parkway. The most gorgeous two-lane Road I’ve ever been on. Sorry, Merritt Parkway, it’s not even close. I traverse the Taconic from the Mass Pike to the Salt Point Turnpike just outside of Poughkeepsie, where I get off.

As of this printing, the Taconic is a measly 55 mph. That’s outrageous. This road is a 70-mile-an-hour road all day long.

Now I understand there are weird intersections right smack dab in the middle of the highway so people can cross from one side. OK, that can be 60 miles an hour to avoid any narrow misses From one of the multiple ramps.

My second concern is with Route 9. It runs adjacent to the Hudson River for me from the ShopRite/Jersey Mike’s to the Mid-Hudson bridge. The speed limit of 45 miles an hour is a significant inconvenience.

This is a road that, in my opinion, should allow for a speed of 60 miles an hour. Yes, there’s a tricky part where the on-ramp on the left side and right side of the highway converge, but we can simply slow down to 55 mph for that.

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I’m being passed by people doing 70 miles an hour anyway. Probably headed off toward Wappingers Falls. The part about Route 9 is there’s really nowhere for the troopers to hide. It’s a 2 lane road. with a very tiny shoulder and no Trooper is going to sit there for a speed trap.

Hudson Valley. Your speed limits are too low. Beef It up a little bit

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