A bill to increase Ohio's non-urban interstate speed limit to 70 mph has cleared a key hurdle in the Ohio Senate.
The Senate Transportation Committee voted 7-2 Tuesday evening on a revised measure containing the speed limit increase. Ohio's current highest speed limit is 65 mph.
The revised bill includes a new guarantee that 90 percent of proceeds from a $1.5 billion Ohio Turnpike bond sale go to northern Ohio. It also would freeze toll rates for local E-ZPass users through 2023 on trips of 30 miles or less.
The toll freeze and funding guarantee were part of Gov. John Kasich's original turnpike proposal, but the administration had backed off both. Officials said too many mandates would jeopardize the financial deal.