The need for speed on the Chisholm Trail

While the Chisholm Trail Parkway isn’t cheap to drive, the $1.6 billion tollway has been a significant time-saver for its patrons, trimming some commute times by half.

Even so, some drivers say they want to get to their destinations faster. They want to put the pedal to the metal.

True, the parkway has one of the lowest speed limits of comparable limited-access roads in the state.

The Star-Telegram’s Gordon Dixon reports that officials from area cities have considered seeking a higher speed limit.

Fort Worth Councilman Jungus Jordan supports an increased speed and hopes the city will hold meetings on the matter this fall.

He’s right to pursue the issues through public hearings. But given the tollway’s youth — its first passengers began traveling in May 2014 — and limited use this far, it’s best to consider any change from a long-term perspective.

After the tollway’s connection with Interstate 30 is finished, proper planning calls for a six-month period for traffic to “normalize.” There need be no rush.

This story was originally published August 17, 2015 at 5:08 PM with the headline "The need for speed on the Chisholm Trail."