Local News
Tri-county partnership could focus on Outer Loop development
By Jim Hardin
Herald-Banner Staff
Rockwall County commissioners may at some time in the future consider becoming part of a tri-county focus on developing an outer loop from Interstate 35 to Interstate 30.
Collin County is leading the effort to develop a partnership that also would include Denton County.
“The bottom line is Collin County is looking to develop a plan for the outer loop, fully within their county if necessary, but they also would like to get to I-30 and I-35,” consultant John Polster told county commissioners Tuesday.
Polster said Collin County is already talking with private sector firms which are interested in this type of project.
“One of the things they are going to hear, if they haven’t already, is that you need to get to I-30 and I-35,” he added.
Polster said the Outer Loop, a connected ring of multi-lane roads which would circle the Metroplex, is a developing process.
“I don’t think there are any decisions that need to be made by anybody at this point in time,” Polster told commissioners. “I think Commissioner (David) Magness may be asking if there’s any thought you have, is there any guidance you want to give us back as we have more meetings on this.”
Magness said his reason for putting this topic on the commissioners’ work session agenda was an effort to keep everyone informed.
“This is strictly transparency, to make sure everybody‘s aware of what‘s going on as it goes on,” Magness said. “We’re not far enough along to make decisions, but I want to make sure the court is aware of what we have heard on this.”
Royse City City Manager Bill Shipp, Fate City Manager Vicki Mikel and Larry Lott, executive director of Royse City Economic Development, also were on hand to learn more about planned countywide improvements to State Highway 66.
In the original scope of services, Polster said, the plan had two couplets in this corridor, one through Rockwall and one through Royse City.
Polster described a couplet as a two-way facility that breaks apart when it comes into a community. It becomes one way so you don’t have all the traffic traveling through a community on one road.
Part of the scope of services, Polster said, “obviously has to be to ensure that those couplets are consistent with what those jurisdictions want.”
“The intent will be early on to not do schematics right off, but to meet with Rockwall and Royse City and do a planning analysis and make sure what we are providing to the state is consistent with what Rockwall and Royse City want,” Polster said.
- Local News
-
-
School incident leads to attempted kidnapping charge
Proceedings are under way to have a 35-year-old Mesquite man extradited to Rockwall County to face an attempted kidnapping charge that stems from an incident last week at Dorothy Smith Pullen Elementary School.
-
Harbor leasing company files for reorganization
Mariah Bay Leasing Company, which administrates the leasing of retail space at The Harbor, has filed for Chapter 11.
-
Three cities have contested races in May 8 local elections
The cities of Rockwall, Royse City and Fate are the only Rockwall County governmental entities with contested races in the May 8 local elections.
-
Rockwall resident dies in Florida diving accident
A Texas man died while diving off of Key Largo in Florida.
-
Water service terminated over dispute involving trash collection charges
An ongoing dispute with the City of Fate over charges for trash collection services has left Michael Drayovitch Jr. without water to his home since Jan. 26.
-
Ed and Karen Miller — A Love Story
For Ed and Karen, it was love at first sight. The only problem was that they were on a double-date, and they weren’t paired with one another.
-
Big sales tax gains for City of Rockwall
The City of Rockwall started 2010 by reporting big gains in sales tax rebate revenue for the month and for the year so far, while other cities in the county recorded mixed results, according to a report released Wednesday by the Texas Comptroller’s office.
-
Trial date set in marijuana, money laundering case
A trial date has been scheduled for one of four Ohio residents, charged with marijuana possession and money laundering.
-
Royse City may suspend impact fees to promote growth
Royse City Manager Bill Shipp threw out an idea to the four members of the city council present at the March 4 workshop meeting about suspending the city’s impact fees in an effort to spur growth.
Shipp cited Midlothian as a city that was trying to increase development with the suspension of such fees, which are relatively new on the scene in area municipal planning strategies. -
Countywide emergency drill held
Emergency personnel from throughout Rockwall County passed their test during an exercise to practice their roles in response to a weather emergency.
- More Local News Headlines
-
