McDreamy makes North Texas happy

Gov. McDreamy sent a letter this week to the Texas Department of Transportation supporting the North Central Texas Council of Governments’ plan to route the infamous Trans Texas Corridor along the Highway 360 corridor and planned Loop 9 corridor.
The NCTCOG plan has been supported by a number of governmental entities in North Texas, including the Ellis County Commissioners Court, who adopted a resolution supporting the plan July 10.

“The TTC Tier 1 plan narrowed their plan town to a 10 mile stretch from Milford to east of Ferris,” County Planner Clyde Melick said. “What we’re saying with this resolution is we’d like TxDOT to look at an alternative alignment – and that’s the 360 corridor.”
Melick said the alternative avoids bisecting the county and doesn’t disturb the Blackland Prairie.
“We also think moving the corridor to the west will benefit the air quality in the region,” Melick said.
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Commissioner Ron Brown, Pct. 4, said the Highway 360 alignment would save $1.9 billion to the state.
“I think there are a lot of questions still out there and I feel concerned about making the resolution,” (County Judge Chad) Adams said.
Melick said the resolution would hopefully get TxDOT and the TTC coalition to study the 360 corridor and give everyone more options and answers.
“It’s better if we call their hand now and ask them to study 360 now so we’ll have more options,” Melick said. “They’ll be a lot more likely to study it now than later down the road.”
Commissioner Heath Sims, Pct. 3, said he favored encouraging the TTC coalition to look at the 360 corridor.
“Just looking at what I’ve been informed about, the map they show cuts our county in half,” Sims said. “We don’t know where the exits or entrances will be but I feel like if they can cut back 60 miles of roadway and save $1.9 billion, building on the 360 corridor and circling the metroplex would be a better deal. And a resolution is nothing more than that. I personally think it does no harm to do a resolution now but it might do harm to do it later.”
Adams took issue with Sims’ comment about splitting the county in half.
“That argument doesn’t make sense because we have Highway 287 cutting the county in half from east to west,” Adams said.
“That’s true, but you also have exits every quarter mile,” Sims said. “We’re talking about a major 1,200 foot roadway with very few exits and trucks and trains carrying who knows what. I move to adopt this resolution.”
Adams asked for more discussion between the commissioners before the resolution was passed.
“I feel there hasn’t been enough communication with the cities,” Adams said. “I want the commissioners to be sure they’re comfortable with their vote.”

The resolution passed in Ellis County 3-2. Adams and Commissioner Dennis Robinson, Pct. 1, voted against the resolution.
The final chance to file comments with TxDOT regarding the plan is Monday, Aug. 21. Representatives from NCTCOG have said previously they expect TxDOT to announce expanding their corrider of study to include the 360 and Loop 9 corridors after the August 21 deadline.
If the plan is approved, the TTC would follow the Highway 360 corridor, west of Midlothian and then connect to the planned Loop 9 around the Metroplex.

See the proposed 360/Loop 9 compromise map. (pdf)
Read the letter from Gov. McDreamy (pdf)
More info from NCTCOG
More info from TxDOT