In early 2020, TxDOT concluded the Collin County Feasibility Study, which decided on a recommended alignment of a freeway along US 380 from the Dallas North Tollway to the Hunt County line.
At the Jan. 21 public hearing, TxDOT presented five conceptual alignments for the project in the area shown in orange, which runs through McKinney, Frisco, Prosper and New Hope.Option 1 was presented in green and is the only option to follow the existing US 380 alignment.
Option 2 was presented in purple and would require new construction along its 15.8 miles. This alignment would begin at the intersection of Coit and US 380 in Prosper and travel around the north side of McKinney to eventually connect back to US 380 and FM 1827.
Option 3 was presented in blue and would span 15.6 miles. The difference between this option and the second option is where the road follows Segment C along and east of the East Fork of the Trinity River. This alternative would connect back to US 380 near FM 1827.
Option 4 was presented in gold and would span 16.3 miles. It would turn south along the west side of the east fork of the Trinity River to connect to US 380 near Airport Drive and then follow US 380 east to FM 1827.Option 5 was presented in brown and spans 14.8 miles.
This alignment would turn north and east to travel along the north side of McKinney and connect to US 75 and Hwy. 5. It would then follow the alternative east of and parallel to the east fork of the Trinity River to connect to US 380 near FM 1827. This option differs from Option 3 in its Segment B.Modifications may continue to be made to these options as the project progresses, the presentation stated.
TxDOT must choose the best option for the project areas. To help compare these options, it has divided the project area into three focus areas for the public to review. The first is two new location segments on the west side of the project area in Prosper, Frisco and the west side of McKinney. The second is a common segment in the central portion of the project area, and the third includes two location segments on the east side of the project area in east McKinney. Each of the options is composed of different combinations of these focus areas linked end to end, the presentation stated.
Each of these focus areas has an option of not building a freeway in Segment F, shown here. Segment B is a newly developed alternative that requires additional study. The city of McKinney recommended Segment B as its preferred alternative to segments A or F. The challenges associated with this focus area include large neighborhoods, existing and proposed developments from McKinney and Prosper, major utilities and a special-use facility, the presentation stated.
After coordinating with the city of McKinney and other stakeholders, TxDOT has shifted Segment E in the second focus area about 80 feet to the north to accommodate construction of a new major water delivery pipeline, the presentation stated. The shift will also create a wider buffer between the freeway and the Heatherwood neighborhood.
TxDOT is also proposing a shift in the proposed freeway connecting US 75 and Hwy. 5 in McKinney. The shift will move this freeway to the south slightly to help pave the way for an economic hub at Laud Howell Parkway, per the city of McKinney’s request.
The presentation emphasized a final alignment has not been chosen and that each concept is being shown with 340 to 400 feet of right of way width.
Input on these options and the three focus areas is being accepted through Feb. 5 to be considered as part of the study documentation. Comments can be submitted here, emailed to [email protected] or submitted via phone at 833-933-0439. A mailing address is also available.
To see the full presentation and to learn more about the project, click here.
Editor's note: This article has been edited to include the correct spelling of Endres.
