In May 2013 the city of Colleyville hosted the first public workshop regarding the Glade Road project that would improve the traffic flow and safety on the section of roadway that runs from River Bend Drive, a half mile east of Precinct Line Road, to Heritage Avenue.
City Council is now undergoing final consideration of the project. The city's project consultant, TranSystems, was set to present the final list of project recommendations June 17 that Colleyville City Council requested after the previous presentation of suggestions April 16, said Mona Gandy, spokeswoman for the city.
The recommended plan for Glade Road costs $20.8 million and is split up into four sections that will be worked on during a span of 10 years, according to the consultant's design plans.
The consultant suggested three curb options that will each differently impact the road, such as tree removal requirements, right of way costs and maintenance levels.
Gandy said City Council is aiming to improve Glade Road's functionality as well as preserve Colleyville's country atmosphere, a topic that the public has brought up in public workshops and the recent citizen survey that recorded what the public wishes to see in the city's future.
Some area residents have shown concern by placing "Protect Glade Road" signs in front of their homes located along the two-lane road. The signs include a link to a Facebook group that has gained more than 440 likes as of June 11.
"We know emotions are running high because this is a big, complicated project. There are a lot of stakeholders, and [residents] have the most at stake," Gandy said. "This is probably one of the longest processes I've seen since I've been here because there's so many pieces to it."
Judy Chappell and her neighbor Liz Zeitlin, both six-year Colleyville residents, have organized a petition that highlights the desire to protect the city's rural feel, the city's quality of life and the property rights of citizens living along Glade Road.
Chappell said the recommendation to add a trail to the north side of the road poses a threat to much of the driveway on her property that extends to Glade Road. Chappell said the trail is unnecessary.
"We're not opposed to sidewalks, but we don't need one on both sides," she said.
Both Chappell and Zeitlin said they are willing to work with City Council.
"We're just hoping we can get a dialogue going," Zeitlin said.
Gandy said the council has been deliberate on the planning process for Glade Road in order to hear residents' concerns and act in a way that takes them into account. If council accepts the consultant's additional recommendations, Gandy said a public meeting to present the plan will be organized as soon as possible.
"At the end of the day, what we hope is we'll come up with something where we are all looking in the same direction," Gandy said.
