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Lavon Lake bridge route - Notice of Public Hearing
Notice of Public Hearing
Lavon Lake Bridge Route Study (FM 1378 to SH 78)
Public Hearing Agenda
- Project Overview
- Project Need and Purpose
- Route Study Process
- Development and Analysis of DRAFT
Technically Feasible Alignment - Public Comments
- Commissioners’ Court Action
 |
Draft Technically Feasible Alignment |
Please come voice your concerns!
Citizens from areas all around the lake have joined with others in Collin County to oppose this route’s approval:
- The $400 to $470 million cost makes this project 7 times more expensive, per mile, than other currently planned Collin County projects.
- The US Army Corps of Engineers own the lake. At this time, the Corps reject this and all proposed routes because they do not meet Federal criteria.
- TxDot’s 2035 Plan mandates cost effective planning, focusing on improvements to existing infrastructure and targeting congestion where it is the worst. This route fails to meet this criteria.
This route should not be placed on the Collin County Mobility Plan 2007 Update, because it distracts from reasonable, cost-effective options:
- Upgrade the currently proposed plans for improvements to Hwy 380, SH78 and other lake area roadways.
- Work within existing ROW as much as possible and target the traffic congestion where it is the greatest.
- Add main lanes, enhanced turn lanes, overpasses, underpasses, and better emergency access lanes.
- Improve intersections with innovative designs such as the Michigan Left Turn recently added in Plano at Preston and Legacy ($2.4 million)
These viable alternatives will increase traffic flow and capacity, lessen the burden on tax payers, and preserve the lake as an asset for all of Collin County.
For more information please visit:
Public Hearing
Lavon Lake Bridge Route Study (FM 1378 to SH 78)Monday, October 11, 2010, 1:00 p.m
Collin County Commissioners Court
Jack Hatchell Administration Building, 4th Floor
2300 Bloomdale Rd., McKinney, TX 75071.
Kay
Bill
14 comments
Comment from: Mr.NoName [Visitor] 
Please no more Michigan left turns. Traffic flows better, but that's because everyone I know avoids that intersection now.
10/10/10 @ 01:32
Intersection designs similar to the new U-Turn in Plano have an adjustment period when they are first introduced into an area, but nationally they have proven to increase capacity and flow. They also are shown to decrease head on collisions and fatalities. Details and animations of this and other alternate intersection options can be found at http://attap.umd.edu/uaid.php Even if Texas drivers end up not accepting the U-Turn intersections (or variations of it) adding main lanes, better turning bays, under and over passes and increasing emergency vehicle access would target congestion at a far more reasonable cost to tax payers. A route representing a project that cost 6 to 7 times more than others in Collin County is not likely to ever be funded, not as a free road or even a toll road. Other plans must be put into place that are reasonable and will eventually get built.
10/10/10 @ 09:21
Comment from: WatchCollinCounty [Visitor]
This is a white elephant project. It is inconceivable that commissioners would vote for such a wasteful project when significantly more cost effective solutions exist. Time to stop codling developers and think of the voters/citizens whose lives will be destroyed. I can't imagine how this could be approved when at the same time they are saying the retirement benefits are too expensive, yet they will plan to blow 1/2 billion on a project that is completely unjustified by any logic.
This project is against any conservative or tea party platforms.
This project is against any conservative or tea party platforms.
10/10/10 @ 10:41
Comment from: Ric Denker [Visitor]
Money would be better spent upgrading existing roads.
10/10/10 @ 13:22
Comment from: Mad Scientist [Visitor]
The Lake Lavon Bridge Project Feasibility Study was buried within a huge 2007 bond that contained a multitude of county transportation projects. "Feasibility" is defined as "the degree to which something can be carried out or achieved."
There have been public meetings, countless emails, and letters, the majority of which say the same thing: we don’t want a bridge.
The Commissioner’s Court has tried to scare us with projection maps in the year 2030 to show the dire need for this bridge. Growth is projected to be concentrated in Plano, McKinney, Frisco, not the east side of Lake Lavon. This tells us quite simply: we don’t need this bridge.
The cost of this bridge is ridiculous. Half a billion dollars. The bottom line: we can’t afford this bridge.
We don’t want a bridge.
We don’t need a bridge.
We can’t afford this bridge.
QED: The bridge is not feasible, so there is no need to accept a bridge route.
There have been public meetings, countless emails, and letters, the majority of which say the same thing: we don’t want a bridge.
The Commissioner’s Court has tried to scare us with projection maps in the year 2030 to show the dire need for this bridge. Growth is projected to be concentrated in Plano, McKinney, Frisco, not the east side of Lake Lavon. This tells us quite simply: we don’t need this bridge.
The cost of this bridge is ridiculous. Half a billion dollars. The bottom line: we can’t afford this bridge.
We don’t want a bridge.
We don’t need a bridge.
We can’t afford this bridge.
QED: The bridge is not feasible, so there is no need to accept a bridge route.
10/10/10 @ 14:09
Comment from: Citizen and Voter [Visitor]
As we watch our leaders jeopardizing our future by spending our country into possibly dangerous dept, and we currently see nearby city and county governments suffering dept and lack of funds to meet requirements, voters and elected officials need take responsibility and stop wasting money as if it is limitless.
The stated reasons for the proposed bridge across Lake Lavon appear to be a smoke screen for the actual driving forces behind the project. Two possible motivations have surfaced:
Reason #1. Possibly misplaced zeal to aid a projected population migration, assumed to be impeded by a valueless body of water which happens to be in the way. Actually the value of Lake Lavon is great on several levels. It serves the water supply for the North Texas Municipal Water District, it provides flood control, and according to the US Army Corps of Engineers Lake Management, it is the last remaining large natural habitat in Collin County that has not been destroyed in the name of progress; or
Reason #2. Possibly a bold attempt by land developers to boost the value of their investments on the east side of the lake by providing direct road accessibility, at the expense of tax payers, and with the help of elected officials.
Citizens have little recourse other than voting against unnecessary and wasteful spending, and voting to remove elected officials who do not exercise fiscal responsibility.
Hopefully this proposed bridge project will wake voters up and remind us about our responsibility. Sadly it may already be too late.
The stated reasons for the proposed bridge across Lake Lavon appear to be a smoke screen for the actual driving forces behind the project. Two possible motivations have surfaced:
Reason #1. Possibly misplaced zeal to aid a projected population migration, assumed to be impeded by a valueless body of water which happens to be in the way. Actually the value of Lake Lavon is great on several levels. It serves the water supply for the North Texas Municipal Water District, it provides flood control, and according to the US Army Corps of Engineers Lake Management, it is the last remaining large natural habitat in Collin County that has not been destroyed in the name of progress; or
Reason #2. Possibly a bold attempt by land developers to boost the value of their investments on the east side of the lake by providing direct road accessibility, at the expense of tax payers, and with the help of elected officials.
Citizens have little recourse other than voting against unnecessary and wasteful spending, and voting to remove elected officials who do not exercise fiscal responsibility.
Hopefully this proposed bridge project will wake voters up and remind us about our responsibility. Sadly it may already be too late.
10/11/10 @ 10:01
Comment from: Tom Frank [Visitor]
The Commissioners are using the same "we know best" approach that has been so popular in DC.
10/11/10 @ 15:45
Comment from: Don Moore [Visitor]
Wow and Wow!!!! The commissioners actually listened to the people and voted 3 to 1 to remove the not just the proposed route but the ENTIRE BRIDGE from the map. So amazing to see a grass roots group of everyday citizens work together for a common cause and WIN!!!
10/11/10 @ 18:24
Comment from: old collin native [Visitor]
Collin County doesn't build roads, or enhance transportation for her citizens, past, present, nor future...the Commissioner's Court only promotes projects that promote DEVELOPMENT. The largest industry in CC is development, and the big money to drive the Republican machine (of which I am one, albeit disgusted)comes from this source. That is who wants the outer loop and the bridge.
10/11/10 @ 19:30
Comment from: Mark Greer [Visitor]
I'm glad this hearing is at 1pm on a Monday so a majority of the citizens can attend - because apparently no one works...
10/12/10 @ 09:37
Comment from: Collin County Voter [Visitor]
If they want to build a new bridge on Lake Lavon, they should build one from Clear Lake Park south to Wylie, which could extend FM 982 to Highway 78 and provide residents on the north side of the lake a better access to Wylie. I know this may also be unpopular, but it would much more credible than the other proposal, which thankfully has now been defeated.
10/12/10 @ 10:57
Comment from: Truth Be Known [Visitor]
The Collin County Commissioners are fiscally responsible. They spent $700,000.00 in consulting fees in regards to building a bridge they decided against building.
Here's a wonderul campaign slogan for any person who plans on running for a Collin County Office:
"Restoring Sanity"
Here's a wonderul campaign slogan for any person who plans on running for a Collin County Office:
"Restoring Sanity"
10/12/10 @ 16:15
For those who wanted the bridge route, please know that you WON on Monday too. The ball is already rolling in the right direction.
The route was not viable. The cost outweighed the benefit. If it had been drawn, it would have been as Mr. Delgado said, "a line on the map forever."
Not being distracted by a glossy, dream of an extravagant bridge, engineering can now focus on projects we CAN afford to build. Projects that will help traffic congestion "in our lifetime."
The route was not viable. The cost outweighed the benefit. If it had been drawn, it would have been as Mr. Delgado said, "a line on the map forever."
Not being distracted by a glossy, dream of an extravagant bridge, engineering can now focus on projects we CAN afford to build. Projects that will help traffic congestion "in our lifetime."
10/13/10 @ 11:19
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