The project
The proposed deck park would connect each side of the roadway through a public park space, either at or below street level, creating an alternative pedestrian crossing.
The proposed “legacy” project is focusing on a pedestrian connection across SH 5 in the downtown area of McKinney, according to a presentation at an April 18 work session. The project was identified through the SH 5 Downtown Pedestrian Study, which assessed crossing SH 5 between Walker Street and Anthony Street, according to the city’s website.
SH 5 bisects the downtown cultural district and the city’s historic neighborhoods on the east side. There are multiple factors spurring the development of SH 5, including the redevelopment initiative the city is working on for the east side of SH 5, which will feature a new city hall and other projects. Another factor is state plans to improve the road.
“As areas east of SH 5 are undergoing redevelopment, the city is evaluating alternatives to improve crossing safety, strengthen connections between communities currently divided by the highway, and further enhance the Historic Downtown McKinney Cultural District,” a statement on the city of McKinney’s website says.
The reconstruction of SH 5 by the Texas Department of Transportation is about 70% designed and is expected to begin construction in late 2024, according to McKinney Director of Engineering Gary Graham.
Council direction
Council members offered a variety of feedback, with some criticism of the proposed project.
Council Member Justin Beller noted the project doesn’t support solving problems the SH 5 corridor currently faces, including improving crossings at other intersections along SH 5.
“We have bigger problems along this entire corridor that needs solutions, and I don't see this as a solution to any of those problems that we have,” Beller said. “I'd see it as a good development, as it helps downtown and helps the site but it's not environmental justice.”
McKinney Mayor George Fuller expressed support for the project, noting the potential for the project to connect the downtown area to future developments on the east side of SH 5 including the new McKinney city hall and the extension of the Davis at the Square development.
“We have an opportunity ... to do a legacy project funded 100% by a federal government that sees a value in it, that would create, again, a legacy project with a huge amenity in our downtown,” Fuller said.
Council members ultimately provided a consensus of support for the an inverted deck park design. City staff is expected to bring more information and decision points to council members at future meetings, McKinney Assistant City Manager Kim Flom said.
The options
City staff first presented different options for a deck park to McKinney City Council members in 2022. The connection would use community spaces to bridge the two sides of the highway at Virginia Street and Louisiana Street.
The inverted deck park option preferred by council members would be constructed underneath SH 5 with the road remaining at street level. This option would require the acquisition of five total land parcels and has an estimated project cost range of $40 million to $45 million, according to the presentation.
The North Central Texas Council of Governments has committed up to $30 million for the inverted deck park option, according to the presentation.
Other options included a deck park, in which SH 5 would be routed underneath the park with the pedestrian crossing remaining at street level, according to the presentation.
This option would require the acquisition of 27 properties in this area, including five total land parcels. The other acquisitions would include 22 partial land parcels, with some property left unusable, according to the presentation.
The estimated cost for this option would range from $85 million to $95 million. City staff has identified this design as a less viable option due to the needed property acquisitions, reduced east-west mobility and reduced funding opportunities, Flom said.
Another option presented is the enhancement of the existing crossing, creating two distinct parks at Virginia and Louisiana streets. While the other options separate the parks from the traffic, this option does require pedestrians to cross vehicular traffic either at Virginia or Louisiana to access the parks. This third option would cost an estimated $3 million, and the presentation didn’t note any needed land acquisitions.
The deck park and inverted deck park options are estimated to need between $2 million-$2.5 million in annual operations and maintenance costs, while the third option of enhancing the existing crossing would only require $100,000 in annual maintenance costs, according to the presentation.
All of the connection options would require the portion of SH 5 from FM 546 to US 380 to be taken off of the TxDOT’s maintenance and control system, Graham said. The city would assume maintenance costs for the road segment, Graham said.
“To achieve the control that we want as a city over the corridor, to do future signal [improvements] to other crossings along the corridor without the oversight of TxDOT, I think taking the roadway off-system is a very prudent move,” Graham said.
For more information on the project, visit www.mckinneytexas.org/3338/projects.
