DFW Projects Thread

[MaxConcrete]

Thanks to the Wayback Machine, I found this lost treasure titled Mobility 2025-DFW.
https://web.archive.org/web/20010419010239/http://www.texasfreeway.com/dallas/mobility_2025/mobility_2025.shtml

Note then Mobility 2025 has been changed to Mobility 2030 since then.
https://web.archive.org/web/20090201015515/http://www.nctcog.org/trans/mtp/

Still, I hope TXDOT will acquire some ROW for the Outer Loop/Loop-9 between Fort Worth and Weatheford because from what I saw on the satellite shots. That sprawl have gone sky high.

That's interesting. I almost certainly created that page on TexasFreeway.com with the 2025 mobility plan map (but I don't remember it). Previous plans are available on the official NCTCOG site.

In 2009, the plan to extend SH 170 westward as a parkway was changed to a toll road in the 2030 plan, and connected to the west outer loop. (page 7)

In 2011 the 2035 plan was approved. It reduced the length of the westward toll extension of SH 170, making it between I-35W and US 287. (page 7)

In 2013 the 2035 plan was updated and the extension west of I-35 was entirely removed. (page 7) The section between I-35W and US 287 is included in the map of corridors for future evaluation (page 10).

In March 2017 the 2040 plan was approved. It appears the extension of SH 170 was dead in this plan. (page 10)

As usual, the culprit for the cancellation of the westward extension of SH 170 was surely lack of funding. The cancellation of the west outer loop may have also contributed. It may also have been considered partially redundant with SH 114 west of I-35W. When a corridor is removed from the long-term plan, there is no longer any effort to preserve the corridor. With the rapid growth in the area, the corridor was soon lost.

The extension to Intermodal Parkway is the only remaining possible extension, and it appears it will be built.

[rte66man]

That's really unfortunate. There is a need today (and definitely in the future) for this to be a freeway. There is no E-W limited access highways north of 820 and west of 35W. Even a cursory look at Google Maps shows the explosive growth in the area.

[Plutonic Panda]

I don't understand what's going on in states like Texas, North Carolina and Tennessee where there's clearly a need a big one for a huge increase in the transportation budget and yet it seems like nothing's ever done. Texas keeps removing projects from the UTP. North Carolina value, engineers and downsizes plans like how they're gonna leave the left-hand exits at that interchange near downtown Asheville is part of the I-26 connector project. For a state like Tennessee it's growing as fast as it is it is certainly not a poor state. Dare I even say it's a pretty wealthy state, I mean, what's the deal?

I see what's going on in Colorado because they're becoming a lot of anti-Car wackos like the people in New York in California. And even then they're just going crazy with the toll lanes which my only grip is they're only making it so there's one toll lane each way as opposed to two which means you're gonna get behind some fucking asshole who's gonna be going the speed limit if you're lucky or more than likely 5 to 10 under.

But still...

[BJ59]

That's really unfortunate. There is a need today (and definitely in the future) for this to be a freeway. There is no E-W limited access highways north of 820 and west of 35W. Even a cursory look at Google Maps shows the explosive growth in the area.

At this point the only solution would be the utilization of SH 114 to the north. I know there are plans to expand FM 730 to a 6-lane arterial in the future (which would connect Azle nicely to the north), but I have heard no plans for SH 114 west of Rhome. The ROW preservation between at least Boyd and the Speedway would need to happen now or very soon for a freeway to possibly be built out there.

[Bobby5280]

A TX-114 freeway to the West of Rhome? Hell, the TX-114 corridor between US-287 and I-35W is in danger of becoming a lost cause corridor. That segment of TX-114 is actively being transformed into an ordinary surface street. The number of traffic signaled intersections is growing. New housing subdivisions are rapidly filling in vacant space and hugging up to the edge of the existing ROW (which varies between 200' and 250'). It might be technically possible to squeeze a freeway 4 or 6 lanes wide plus frontage roads into that space. But any water drainage features would have to be re-built under the roadways. And engineers would have to get very creative on how to incorporate on/off ramps and crossover bridges along the way.

[MaxConcrete]

A TX-114 freeway to the West of Rhome? Hell, the TX-114 corridor between US-287 and I-35W is in danger of becoming a lost cause corridor. That segment of TX-114 is actively being transformed into an ordinary surface street. The number of traffic signaled intersections is growing. New housing subdivisions are rapidly filling in vacant space and hugging up to the edge of the existing ROW (which varies between 200' and 250'). It might be technically possible to squeeze a freeway 4 or 6 lanes wide plus frontage roads into that space. But any water drainage features would have to be re-built under the roadways. And engineers would have to get very creative on how to incorporate on/off ramps and crossover bridges along the way.

There has been a lack of advocacy for a SH 114 freeway westward extension. Advocacy normally would be by the county. A possible problem is that the section from I-35W to US 287 is in both Denton County and Wise County. I don't recall ever hearing of any advocacy from either county. Maybe one county (probably Wise County) doesn't want a freeway for some reason, and Denton County won't put in any effort if the freeway won't connect to US 287. Maybe Wise County wants money to go to US 287 freeway upgrades. No advocacy = no freeway.

For comparison, Collin County advocated heavily for the US 380 freeway and made a huge financial contribution - I think CC has committed around $1 billion of local funds.

There's a limited amount of money available for new freeways. US 380 is expected to cost around $8 billion, so there's not much left for everyone else, even if there is advocacy.

Normally we would expect NCTCOG to step up, but they may be financially constrained or struggling with other projects, such as the SH 360 south extension (which they appear to have botched, but can still salvage it). NTTA hasn't stepped up either. For some reason, nobody wants to touch the SH 114 extension to US 287.

I think traffic congestion will become very serious at SH 114 and I-35W, so it may force leadership to prioritize getting SH 114 past I-35W. Maybe attention at I-35W will also get some attention on the corridor westward to Rhome.

[Bobby5280]

There has been a lack of advocacy for a SH 114 freeway westward extension. Advocacy normally would be by the county.

If that's how TX DOT is really handling regional or state-wide highway planning then they must be taking stupid pills by the fist-full or just pouring the bottle straight down their throats.

Any idiot could see TX-114 is a very important enter/exit corridor for the DFW region. It's one of two primary routes of choice for anyone driving into DFW from Wichita Falls, Amarillo or points farther West or Northwest. It has been plainly obvious for more than 25 years that TX-114 needed to be more than just an ordinary highway.

TX DOT improved that segment of TX-114 somewhat by expanding it into a divided four lane highway. That was a big improvement from the 2-lane crap in the 1990's and earlier. But now that four lane highway is getting pock-marked with increasing numbers of traffic signals and other drawbacks common to ordinary urban surface streets. And that's all thanks to piss poor planning from the state. Blaming the problem on Denton County or Wise County is a cop-out. TX DOT and state legislators just didn't do their damned jobs. There's no good excuse for that shit. That portion of TX-114 affects far more motorists than just people living right there in that immediate area. It's more than just a neighborhood street.

I wondered if the Denton/Wise County line was near the spot where TX-114 drops from being a freeway upgrade-ready road to a regular surface street. That point is the interchange with FM-156 near the Northwest ISD school complex. The county line is actually a few miles farther West. That makes Denton County just as culpable as Wise County for not advocating loud enough to get TX-114 properly upgraded. Honestly, TX-114 is a state highway. Not a county highway. State-level attention (and even federal attention) should have been present here OVER 20 YEARS AGO.

I totally understand the current situation of limited funding being available for new freeways (or even new toll roads). The problem is TX DOT and the Texas state legislature became very negligent over the past 30 years when it comes to highway planning. The flagrantly stupid mess along the US-380 corridor is a perfect example of that incompetence. If this TX-114 situation in the NW part of the DFW region had been present 50 years ago TX DOT would have handled it promptly. If they didn't build a freeway immediately they would have carved out a divided highway corridor with a big median in the middle for a future freeway. That's how they used to do things. Today the standard appears to be doing as little as possible to get by.

[rte66man]

There has been a lack of advocacy for a SH 114 freeway westward extension. Advocacy normally would be by the county.

If that's how TX DOT is really handling regional or state-wide highway planning then they must be taking stupid pills by the fist-full or just pouring the bottle straight down their throats.

Any idiot could see TX-114 is a very important enter/exit corridor for the DFW region. It's one of two primary routes of choice for anyone driving into DFW from Wichita Falls, Amarillo or points farther West or Northwest. It has been plainly obvious for more than 25 years that TX-114 needed to be more than just an ordinary highway.

TX DOT improved that segment of TX-114 somewhat by expanding it into a divided four lane highway. That was a big improvement from the 2-lane crap in the 1990's and earlier. But now that four lane highway is getting pock-marked with increasing numbers of traffic signals and other drawbacks common to ordinary urban surface streets. And that's all thanks to piss poor planning from the state. Blaming the problem on Denton County or Wise County is a cop-out. TX DOT and state legislators just didn't do their damned jobs. There's no good excuse for that shit. That portion of TX-114 affects far more motorists than just people living right there in that immediate area. It's more than just a neighborhood street.

I wondered if the Denton/Wise County line was near the spot where TX-114 drops from being a freeway upgrade-ready road to a regular surface street. That point is the interchange with FM-156 near the Northwest ISD school complex. The county line is actually a few miles farther West. That makes Denton County just as culpable as Wise County for not advocating loud enough to get TX-114 properly upgraded. Honestly, TX-114 is a state highway. Not a county highway. State-level attention (and even federal attention) should have been present here OVER 20 YEARS AGO.

I totally understand the current situation of limited funding being available for new freeways (or even new toll roads). The problem is TX DOT and the Texas state legislature became very negligent over the past 30 years when it comes to highway planning. The flagrantly stupid mess along the US-380 corridor is a perfect example of that incompetence. If this TX-114 situation in the NW part of the DFW region had been present 50 years ago TX DOT would have handled it promptly. If they didn't build a freeway immediately they would have carved out a divided highway corridor with a big median in the middle for a future freeway. That's how they used to do things. Today the standard appears to be doing as little as possible to get by.

C'mon, you know that isn't how things work. I'm not saying it's right, just that if there is no squeaky wheel advocating for it, it won't get done. TxDOT is going to use scarce funds elsewhere. Politics is the same everywhere.

[05danper42842]

In the meanwhile check out the Aerial photos of I-635East Project link below. I am waiting for the Express Lanes to open! As a couple days I inquired to a TXDOT Employee about it and I was told by Mid September they will be open... Quite long delay after being told they were going to be open by August¿ Has anyone heard of any ribbon cutting or ceremony for this 2 year delayed project that was supposed to reach substantial completion by late 2024?
 

https://pixies.et/dpItEg6H

[longhorn]

In the meanwhile check out the Aerial photos of I-635East Project link below. I am waiting for the Express Lanes to open! As a couple days I inquired to a TXDOT Employee about it and I was told by Mid September they will be open... Quite long delay after being told they were going to be open by August¿ Has anyone heard of any ribbon cutting or ceremony for this 2 year delayed project that was supposed to reach substantial completion by late 2024?
 

https://pixies.et/dpItEg6H

Impressive. Thank you.