County awaits word on three road projects

By Jim Hardin

Herald-Banner Staff

Rockwall County officials were expected to learn by the end of the week whether there will be funds available for three planned road construction projects.

County officials learned last week that funds may not be available now for the Erby Campbell /Interstate 30 interchange, Farm to Market 549/I-30 interchange and the Farm to Market 740 South widening project.

The Texas Transportation Commission was scheduled to meet Thursday to take final action on allocating Proposition 12 funding to projects. Rockwall County officials are wanting a bigger share of the funds to cover costs of the local projects.

The funding issue was a major topic of discussion Wednesday night during a meeting of the Rockwall County Planning Consortium.

In 2007, the Texas Legislature created a new transportation funding source in the form of general obligation bonds. This measure went to statewide voters as Proposition 12 in 2007 and authorized $5 billion in general revenues for transportation. In 2009, the Texas Legislature appropriated $1.85 billion to this initiative.

At the Oct. 30 meeting of the Texas Transportation Committee, the Texas Department of Transportation staff recommended $126 million in maintenance projects for the Dallas-Fort Worth region, which includes Rockwall County. That total represents 6.7 percent of the statewide funding total.

Rockwall County Commissioner David Magness said about $44 million of $126 million is for new construction. He said Rockwall County needs about $28 million for its three projects. The county also plans to put in $23 million for the local work.

In a resolution, the Regional Transportation Council asked that the Dallas-Fort Worth region obtain a fair share allocation of Prop. 12 funding.

In the resolution, it also is suggested that TxDOT should develop a cooperative team approach with the Regional Transportation Council and TxDOT Dallas and Fort Worth districts to select Proposition 12 projects in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.

Consultant John R. Polster provided information on the following county road projects:

• John King Boulevard /I-30 Interchange — Project includes the development and construction of an interchange, including frontage roads and ramps at Bypass Street on I-30 and Texas 205.

• Erby Campbell/I-30 Interchange — The development and construction of an interchange at I-30 and Hickory Hill Road.

• FM 551 /I-30 Interchange — Reconstruct existing two-lane bridge to a four-lane bridge.

• FM 549 /I-30 Interchange — Development and construction of an interchange at I-30 and FM 549.