Last Night I Drove TX-130...

"PatBateman" (PatBateman)
09/23/2013 at 21:51 • Filed to: Texas

...AND IT WAS AWESOME!!! For those of you in other parts of the country, TX-130 is the toll road that has 85MPH speed limits. Through Austin, however, it's only 80.

There is something invigorating about legally driving at a speed that cops would normally fine you for. It was at about 11:30 PM (I have a client that's a night owl) on my way back to Houston that I drove this glorious stretch of concrete and I loved every second of it. The road is wide open, empty, and smooth as a baby's pooper. The only HOLY CRAP moment was when a four point buck appeared out of nowhere in the grass median, about two feet from the road. As a connoisseur of hitting deer with vehicles, I remained calm, but I would be lying if I said that my butthole didn't pucker. Yes, I did "accidentally" punch it up to about 95 for schlitts and giggles, but I tried to keep the speed down within about 4 over.

Among other things, this makes me miss Austin.

DISCUSSION (17)

ttyymmnn > PatBateman
09/23/2013 at 22:01

Just watch out for the feral hogs .

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > PatBateman
09/23/2013 at 22:02

You ever driven on Tomball parkway/249?

PatBateman > ttyymmnn
09/23/2013 at 22:02

Yeah, a big sow could really ruin a guy's night.

PatBateman > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
09/23/2013 at 22:03

I have not. I live on the SW side of town, with little chance to get up that way. 80 as well?

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > PatBateman
09/23/2013 at 22:20

Nah, it's 65mph, but there's never a cop patrolling that highway, and only gets congested going outbound to Tomball at 5pm, and inbound in the morning. For the rest of the day traffic is moderate to light, and at late night it's completely empty...and it's very tempting to let the foot drop to the floor once or twice every half year or so.

I've also seen some videos of some street racing on there, which makes me sad because I'd rather see it not crawling with cops.

edit: also none of the cops drive the speed limit on this highway.

Where have all the lightweights gone? > PatBateman
09/23/2013 at 22:37

This highway is absolutely amazing. I was down in Austin over Labor Day weekend, and we thoroughly tested 360° visibility while in my buddy's Boss 302. I think he redlined 1st-4th and backed off. I think we topped off at 140.

Soloburrito > Where have all the lightweights gone?
09/23/2013 at 22:49

Excellent. I did 120 in my GT shortly after merging and held at 100 from 71 to COTA. Never thought I'd learn to love a toll road.

Frank Grimes > PatBateman
09/23/2013 at 23:32

They got these in utah too.

PatBateman > Frank Grimes
09/23/2013 at 23:33

I bet it's a bit more scenic in Utah, too...

Frank Grimes > PatBateman
09/23/2013 at 23:35

possibly. http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politic…

Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents > PatBateman
09/23/2013 at 23:36

Watch out for those hogs man. Hitting one of those while doing 90 won't be pretty. But going 85 on that road is pretty sweet. I wonder what the hit to mpg's is when you up the speed from 75 to 85.

Where have all the lightweights gone? > Soloburrito
09/23/2013 at 23:37

I never thought I would, either. That says a lot living outside Chicago—I can't stand them here!

PatBateman > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents
09/23/2013 at 23:44

In my 2006 Crew Cab F150 Lariat 4x4 (5.4L), I averaged 13.8 mpg at speed.

Yes, I purposefully set the truck's computer because I was curious as well. After coasting for about 1.5 miles in neutral to the stoplight at my exit (hwy 71), I got that up to 14.6.

PatBateman > Where have all the lightweights gone?
09/23/2013 at 23:58

Yeah, the Dan Ryan isn't comparable. LOL

Where have all the lightweights gone? > PatBateman
09/24/2013 at 00:11

It's not so much the Dan Ryan. It's the Tri-State to bypass the city (tolls), I-355 to get from the southwest suburbs to northwest suburbs (tolls), I-88 to get out to the western suburbs, De Kalb, and one way to the Iowa border (tolls), or I-90 to get from Chicago to Rockford (tolls). Plus, if you want to cross the Illinois/Wisconsin border or the Illinois/Indiana border on an interstate, that's also a (very high) toll.

PatBateman > Where have all the lightweights gone?
09/24/2013 at 00:14

Y'all have way too many toll roads. They are somewhat new things in Texas (especially in Austin).

Where have all the lightweights gone? > PatBateman
09/24/2013 at 00:29

Texas and southern California have used toll roads the smart way—to alleviate congestion on the main arteries in and out of the city. Not everyone will be able to afford using them regularly, and those that choose to do so get a quicker commute home.

Here in Chicago, they built these toll roads in a sense that makes them the ONLY way to get between certain points aside from surface streets. They still get equally congested, and, as a result, the tolls are more of an extortion-like tax versus a luxury alternative.