McKinney officials move on from $45 million Lower 5 Plaza project

Tracy Lund, assistant director of engineering for McKinney, broke down survey results that included more than 600 responses with public input regarding the Lower 5 Plaza project. However, with the loss of federal funding, city staff were recommending a new direction.

“With the loss of the $15 million of federal funding, staff’s recommendation is to stop work on the Lower 5 Plaza project and redirect efforts to redirect the remaining $22.65 million of [NCTCOG] funding to other improvements on the [SH 5] corridor,” Lund said.

The details

Instead of a bridge built at ground level with a park that extends under SH 5, city officials are now planning for an improved at-grade crossing in the same location. The project scope now also includes plans for an additional eight pedestrian crossings along the road.

The enhanced at-grade crossing is estimated to cost $2 million and the additional pedestrian crossings are estimated to cost $4 million, according to a staff presentation. City staff will coordinate with the Texas Department of Transportation and the North Central Texas Council of Governments to incorporate additional improvements along SH 5, Lund said.

TxDOT officials are already planning reconstruction of SH 5 between McMakin Street and Power House Street. That project is expected to begin in late 2026 or early 2027, according to a city document.

The city is already committed to funding improvements like street lighting, turn lanes and drainage improvements as part of that project. If the enhanced at-grade crossing and additional pedestrian crossings were added to the project, the city’s expected contribution would increase to $12.39 million.

Quote of note

“While this is certainly a change, I don’t think it stops or curbs the appetite to connect different areas of McKinney,” Mayor Bill Cox said. “I think the staff has done a great job in pivoting, if you will, or amending the original agreement.”