Congested areas of the Pennsylvania Turnpike have become wider. S-curves have been straightened. The steep banks have been lowered. And today's vehicles possess more safety features than ever.

For all those reasons, a western Pennsylvania lawmaker thinks the time is right to give the Turnpike Commission the option of raising the maximum speed limit on sections of the cross-state toll road from 65 mph to 70.

A bill, sponsored by state Rep. Joe Preston, D-Allegheny County, that would allow the higher speed limit is under consideration in the state House. It won approval of the chamber's transportation committee last week by an 18-4 vote.

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