The bill introduced Tuesday would allow the state Department of Transportation to increase the limits to 80 mph on sections of I-80, up from the current 75 mph.

Sen. John Murante of Gretna, who introduced the bill, says the department would immediately raise the speed limit on I-80 between Omaha and Lincoln if the proposal goes into effect. Many other rural highways and expressways would see speed limit increases of 5 mph.

Ricketts says the measure would make Nebraska’s transportation system more effective, efficient and customer-focused.

It’s likely to face resistance from highway safety groups, which argue that higher speed limits have been linked to more fatalities.