mck-2016-12-10-01Custer Road widening


The city of Frisco is widening Custer Road from Stonebridge Drive to SH 121. The 3-mile project will widen the existing four-lane roadway to six lanes. Construction on this project was 90 percent complete as of Nov. 14 and is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of this year.

Timeline: January-December
Cost: $9.17 million
Funding sources: city of Frisco, Collin County

mck-2016-12-10-02Lake Forest Drive expansion


The city will widen Lake Forest Drive from two lanes to four lanes from Wilmeth Road to Bloomdale Road. A portion of Bloomdale east of the intersection of Bloomdale and Lake Forest will also be reconstructed. As of Nov. 14, crews are working on grading and installing storm drain and stormwater-protection facilities.

Timeline: September-June
Cost: $3.7 million
Funding sources: city of McKinney, Collin County

mck-2016-12-10-03Cole Street reconstruction


The city started reconstruction of the roadway, water and sanitary sewer infrastructure along Cole Street from Bass Street to College Street on Nov. 14. The city will also be constructing storm sewer lines and sidewalks.

Timeline: November 2016-November 2017
Cost: $2.3 million
Funding sources: city of McKinney



How it works:
Why is there a State Highway Fund shortfall?


In Texas, funding for new roads and maintenance comes from a number of sources, including fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.

These revenue streams make up the State Highway Fund—the fund TxDOT uses to pay for existing and new roadways.

However, because state and federal fuel taxes have not been raised since the early 1990s, revenue from these sources has remained steady while road congestion costs have increased.

Each year, Texas has a $5 billion shortfall for road maintenance and mobility improvements, according to TxDOT.

In 2014 and 2015, Texas voters approved propositions 1 and 7, respectively, measures to transfer taxes paid by oil and gas production companies and general sales tax revenue from the state into the State Highway Fund.

It is estimated the measures will transfer at least $4.2 billion annually to the fund, beginning with the 2018 fiscal year.

To bridge the rest of the gap, TxDOT and state legislators are considering other revenue sources for this upcoming session, such as increasing the fuel tax or partnering with private entities.