WHEREAS, Section 2 of Public Law 93-239, the "Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act", enacted January 2, 1974, and effective March 3, 1974, establishes a national maximum speed limit of 55 miles per hour to conserve fuel during periods of current and imminent fuel shortages; and,
WHEREAS, the Federal Highway Administration has given advance notice that, in compliance with Public Law 93-239, after March 3, 1974, the Division Engineer will not authorize the State to advertise for bids for construction until the State furnishes evidence of action by the State to implement Section 2 of the Act, including a statement that speed limit signs have been changed to comply with the requirements of the Act, the cost of which changes is federally reimbursable; and,
WHEREAS, the Arkansas State Highway Commission is authorized by Arkansas Statutes Section 75-601, as amended, and Section 75-601.1 to set maximum and minimum speed limits on controlled access highways and all highways on the Arkansas State Highway System, in addition to general authority contained in Arkansas Statutes, Section 76-201.5; and,
WHEREAS, based upon a traffic and engineering study by Arkansas Highway Department Traffic Engineers to determine maximum speed limits consistent with highway safety, fuel conservation and other factors, which study determined that a maximum speed limit of 55 miles per hour meets those criteria, signs establishing a 55 miles per hour maximum speed limit have been erected on all highways in the Highway System.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the action of the Director of Highways in the erection of signs establishing a maximum speed limit of 55 miles per hour on all highways in the State Highway System in Arkansas is hereby ratified and confirmed, and the Director is further authorized to take any further action required to implement Section 2 of Public Law 93-239, the requirements of the Federal Highway Administration, and that are in the public interest in safety and fuel conservation.