1. Three major road widening projects affect commuters in and through Frisco: the Dallas North Tollway, FM 423 and US 380 projects.
A. The DNT is being widened by one lane in either direction from the Sam Rayburn Tollway to Belt Line Road in Dallas. The project began in January 2016 and is expected to be complete in 2018. The second phase of the project, stretching from Lebanon Road to Eldorado Parkway, will also include construction of an additional lane on the northbound and southbound frontage roads. Completion of the project is scheduled for the end of 2017.
B. FM 423 is also being widened by one lane in either direction from US 380 to Eldorado Parkway in Frisco. Another portion of the roadway from Stewarts Creek Road to SH 121 is also being widened. The project, funded by the Texas Department of Transportation, is expected to be completed in 2017.
C. Finally, US 380 is being widened from Lovers Lane to Loop 288. The roadway was already widened from Custer Road to Lovers Lane. A part of the project from Lovers Lane to CR 26 is expected to be completed in 2018.
2. The city is working to incorporate roundabouts in lieu of stop signs or traffic signals at certain minor thoroughfare intersections. For instance, A. Ohio Drive has three planned roundabouts, one of which is under design at Warren Parkway. Two roundabouts on minor thoroughfares came online in 2016 at the intersections of B. John Hickman and Gaylord parkways and C. Teel and Rockhill parkways. Several other roundabouts are also planned, mostly in neighborhood developments.
3. The city of Frisco is enhancing its traffic signals to see how it can improve traffic flow. In April, Frisco City Council approved a grant to fund radar detection equipment and advanced traffic signal controllers at 30 traffic signals, expanding the total number of intersections with smart controllers to 70 in the city. The equipment would measure whether a traffic light is green when most vehicles are arriving and whether the green-light time is distributed fairly throughout the day.
Frisco is also connecting its entire traffic signal network to certain Audi vehicles to allow drivers to know when a signal will turn green at an intersection. Both efforts are expected to improve traffic flow and increase fuel efficiency.
