The study area TxDOT examined includes the area north of and south of US 380, and includes the cities of Frisco, Denton, Providence Village, Little Elm, Aubrey, Krugerville, Celina and Cross Roads. On Nov. 30, TxDOT opened a virtual public meeting for the US 380 Denton County Feasibility Study. It will remain online through Wednesday, Jan. 19.
The purpose of the study is to present the recommended alignment to the public. The proposed project would provide a six- to eight-lane freeway with frontage roads, the TxDOT presentation stated.
The US 380 corridor provides “vital connectivity between Collin and Denton counties, similar to I-20 for Dallas and Tarrant counties,” according to the presentation. While providing access to regional connectivity is a priority for TxDOT, another goal of the project is to add to the safety of the corridor as the region continues to grow.
The population in the area TxDOT studied has grown 92% from 2010 to 2020 and is expected to continue rising, the presentation stated. In January 2022, TxDOT began work on an interim project to widen US 380 from four to six lanes with grade separations, improve sidewalks and install continuous lighting for 10 miles from the US 377 and US 380 intersection to the Collin County line.
The project is expected to last 36 months. While this is expected to add capacity and provide safety enhancements, it is not expected to address the long-term needs of the corridor, the presentation stated. This is where the future plans for the freeway come in. Projections show that by 2045, if no additional improvements are made to the US 380 study area beyond the in-progress project, congestion is expected to increase more than 200%. That is three times what was experienced in 2020, the presentation stated.
TxDOT’s recommendation for the freeway alignment solves congestion better than other alternatives that were proposed, the presentation showed. With the freeway option, congestion would only increase 12% by 2045. The next best options tied at a 115% increase in congestion.
Construction on this project is still years away, officials stated. The feasibility study will be completed in 2022, after which the corridor will be separated into independent projects that will be prioritized based on need. These projects will then undergo environmental studies and are subject to alignment changes. Once these studies are complete, final design and construction plans will be developed. Actual construction cannot begin until funding is identified, the presentation stated.
