Collin County Commissioner Joe Jaynes talks roads

by Staff of McKinneyNews.net

Editor's note: The following was written by Collin County Commissioner Joe Jaynes.

Almost everyone in Collin County lives within 30 miles of US 75, a road that could be considered the spinal cord of Collin County's north-south mobility. Next year's expansion of US 75 to eight main lanes and two three-lane service roads will affect the daily commutes of thousands. Quite frankly, that commute will get worse before it gets better -- but better it will get.

The good news is that the funding for the much needed expansion is in place, and after engineering and environmental studies are completed, the project will be ready to go. Below is a breakdown of segments of US 75 and when they are scheduled to be let, or awarded for construction. Please keep in mind that once a project is let it usually takes another 90 days before dirt begins moving. Also, all the projects below have a two- to three-year time period for completion.

US 75 from Legacy to SH 121: This segment is scheduled to let in fall 2012 and be completed by fall 2014;

US 75 at SH 121 Interchange: Already under construction, this new four-level interchange will be open to traffic by spring 2011 and fully completed by the following spring;

US 75 from SH 121 to US 380: This segment goes right through the heart of McKinney, and is scheduled to let in late 2010 with a scheduled completion in spring 2014;

US 75 at US 380 intersection: One of the most congested intersections in Collin County, this project is already underway and scheduled to be completed by fall 2010;

US 75 at Wilmeth: This segment will go through some major change as US 75 will be constructed over Wilmeth with an exit added at Bloomdale Rd. This segment will let next spring with completion scheduled for fall 2011;

US 75 from Bloomdale Rd. to Telephone Rd: This segment will let in spring 2011, with construction scheduled to be complete by summer 2013;

US 75 from Telephone Rd. to Melissa Rd.: This project includes a new interchange at US 75 and SH 121 in Melissa. The project will be let in spring 2012 and is scheduled to be completed by fall 2014;

US 75 from Melissa Rd. to Foster's Crossing (the Outer Loop): The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)would like to schedule this to begin in spring 2013, but we need to see how far we are on both the Outer Loop and how the schematic will look for the interchange at the Outer Loop and US 75;

US 75 from the Outer Loop to Grayson County: At this point, there is only funding for engineering. Hopefully, two legislative sessions will have passed by the time we need to move dirt on this project and new construction dollars will be allocated.

Even though US 75 is a TxDOT project, the majority of the funding for these project segments came from the SH 121 Regional Toll Revenues. The North Texas Tollway Authority paid the region $3.2 billion for the right to toll SH 121 for the next 50 years.

Of this $3.2 billion, $1.5 billion came to Collin County. Out of the $1.5 billion, $600 million of this money went to the construction of the SH 121 main lanes, which is moving forward aggressively now. Another $600 million is being put into US 75, with the remaining funds upgrading other major thoroughfares throughout the county.

Overall, Collin County is very fortunate because, while the state is going through a major transportation funding crisis, we are still able to move forward with these important projects. I look forward to keeping you updated on this issue.