Richardson aims to upgrade traffic signals, improve intersection capacity and extend several trails in the city in fiscal year 2026-27.
Mark Nelson, director of transportation and mobility, proposed a $1.9 million transportation and mobility budget for FY 2026-27, which is on par with the budget for 2025-26, at the June 15 City Council meeting.
The overview
Transportation and mobility covers work on traffic signals, streetlights, school zones, signs, pavement markings and bike lanes, Nelson said.
The majority of the budget will go toward signs and markings, with some funds set aside for signals and street lighting.
Nelson also covered the city’s traffic work plan for FY 2026-27, which will include traffic signal replacement with accessibility upgrades on eight intersections, as well as design work on eight additional signals. The city will also initiate a project to update school zone flashers across the city.
There are also two planned projects aimed at improving intersection capacity on Campbell Road at University Parkway and Jupiter Road. These projects, primarily funded through grants from the Texas Department of Transportation, will add and expand lanes at the intersections and upgrade traffic signals. Construction is planned to start in late 2026 and last into 2027.
Also of note
In addition to the yearly budget, the city established a technology fund in 2019 to fund and track expenditures for system implementations and new technology deployment. Nelson proposed $458,431 in technology fund expenditures next year, a decrease from the projected expenditures for FY 2025-26.
For fiscal year 2026-27, technology projects include upgrading and replacing central system software, replacing the video wall, launching an intelligent transportation systems master plan and completing a communications master plan.
A closer look
Transportation program manager Daniel Herrig also covered the city’s Active Transportation Program work plan for FY 2026-27.
Planned construction includes extending Central Trail, extending bike lanes and pedestrian sidewalks on Collins Overpass and making crossing and trail enchancements along Arapaho Road at US 75.
Several projects will be in the planning stage next year, including a Safe Routes to School program aimed at improving safe transportation around RISD schools and a study led by Garland to extend Duck Creek Trail.
Herrig also said mobility improvements near the University of Texas at Dallas and new pedestrian signals on Renner Road will be under design next year.
