Texas Transit Association

Tolled highway lanes and commuter rail in the future of Collin County, north of Dallas. The Regional Transportation Council explores their options for Collin as well as Denton, Dallas and Tarrant Counties that comprise the Metroplex.

Regional light rail, more toll roads foreseen in Collin County
By: K. SHELBY CLARK , STAFF WRITER Allen American 07/17/2003

The future of transportation in Collin County may include plans for regional light rail, expansion of existing toll roads and the addition of toll lanes to existing freeways.

Building a commuter rail system in Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant counties was among the priorities that the North Central Texas Council of Governments’ Regional Transportation Council included in a report issued last week.
Headed by Tarrant County Commissioner Glen Whitley and Collin County Commissioner Jack Hatchell, vice chair, the council explored options for a regional light-rail system that would likely require governmental cooperation from each of the member-cities and voter approval in each county.
A new regional rail authority would serve as an umbrella agency for the Fort Worth Transportation Authority, Denton County Transportation Authority and Dallas Area Rapid Transit.
Whitley’s rail plan is among several so-called “mobility-mitigation” options in the Council of Governments’ Mobility 2025 proposal, which includes studies on toll roads, managed lanes, light rail, bicycle and pedestrian trails, and projected road congestion estimates.
The report estimates that by year 2025, 45 percent of the roadways will be congested with an annual congestion cost of $8.2 billion.
Already, Plano’s three DART light rail stations boast an average daily ridership of 4,200 passengers a day, commuting south from Plano into Richardson, Dallas, Garland and Oak Cliff, said DART spokesman Morgan Lyons.
Feasibility studies continue for the extension of DART light rail from Parker Road in Plano, through Allen, to Virginia Parkway in McKinney.

*Expanding toll roads*
While the success of light rail in Plano may be significant, the contribution of toll roads throughout Collin County may be greater.
The North Texas Tollway Authority boasts 125,000 Collin County Tolltag users and more than 700,000 Tolltag customers throughout four counties.
Don Dillard, chairman of the North Texas Tollway Authority, went before county commissioners last week to outline future toll projects in Collin County.
Extending the Dallas North Tollway from State Highway 121 to U.S. 380 in northern Collin County tops the list.
Detailed plans for the four-lane toll road are expected next year for the expansion, which would open for traffic in approximately 2008.
Construction is already under way for the extension of the Dallas North Tollway to State Highway 121, which is three months ahead of schedule and planned for completion in spring 2004.
Also among the tollway authority’s future projects is a solution for the congested interchange at Central Expressway and President George Bush Turnpike.
Rivaling Central Expressway at LBJ Freeway as a hot spot for traffic delays and halting congestion, Dillard said the Central Expressway at Bush Turnpike interchange will be studied in coming years.
“We’re looking for project solutions for increased delays and congestion at this interchange,” Dillard said.

*Adding toll lanes to freeways*
While expanding its existing toll roads, the tollway authority is also studying the implementation of managed lanes, a state transportation department suggestion for adding toll lanes to existing to existing freeways.
Dillard told commissioners that Austin legislators are suggesting such managed lanes to help mitigate the Metroplex’s growing transportation needs.
But such a suggestion will need cooperation from governmental bodies such as the Collin County Commissioners’ Court.
“If we step out there, we have to see people are behind us,” Dillard said.
Currently, LBJ Freeway in Dallas County is being considered for managed lanes, but congested Collin County roads such as State Highway 121 may also be considered.
County Judge Ron Harris asked Dillard to return to the Commissioners’ Court in six months to report the results of feasibility plans for such managed lanes.
“We don’t want to be lynched by people that think we’re going to put a toll on U.S. 75,” Harris said. “That’s why I’m asking for a formalized congestion mitigation plan from the NTTA.”