No Highway Bridge for Lake Lavon?!.

With the recent release of the new NCTCOG map that shows improvements to existing roads (wonder where they got that idea) and some added paths, there appears to be an absence of a major Interstate-style Highway with an 8-lane bridge forever bifurcating the most used and deepest parts of Lake Lavon.   What an early Christmas gift from the NCTCOG!  It is important to understand that there was a lot that went into this change by the NCTCOG.

There was the overt input to the NCTCOG by elected officials and municipalities like St Paul which early on passed a resolution against funds being used to study, plan, or build such a bridge across Lake Lavon.  There was the overt actions of hundreds of citizens who made an impact at public hearings and proceedings at the County Commissioners Court Sessions, Wylie Workshop with the COG, Princeton Council Meetings, Wylie Regular Council Session, and more.  There was the overt action of nearly 2,400 people signing the petition against the bridge.  And. there was the overt work of candidates, like Darrell Hale and others, driving the roads and talking to citizens and using their skills to try to find the best solution.

With that stated, we should also understand that there was a lot behind the scenes work done by elected officials, commissioners, city managers, mayors, council persons, and the NCTCOG to find routes that would help address traffic needs while being less intrusive than a new Central Expressway through Wylie, Lake Lavon, and the peninsula.We heard from NCTCOG representatives that in the history of the COG working with the North Texas municipalities, it has never promoted a road through a city that did not want it.  With the culmination of Wylie’s resolution against new highways north-south or east-west through its city limits or ETJ, can we stand down and walk away?   What do you think?   NO.  Until the April 2, 2018 and June 4, 2018 deadlines for the NCTCOG 2045 Mobility Plan we must stay aware and active.  For many, the proposed new arterial roads will be a major concern.   So, no… we cannot assume all is well until we see the final revision of the 2045 Mobility plan and it has been adopted by the RTC.

Finally, our county officials need to know we are not standing down and that we expect them to provide the resources needed for the southeastern portion of Collin County.  Even though we did not want a major highway through Lake Lavon and through our populated neighborhoods, we still need improvements and modernization to existing major roads.  The current plan for a highway to the east of Lake Lavon appears to be viable and will hopefully meet the needs of the county and the region.

Now, County Commissioners Court and Judge Self, work with us to address Southeast Collin County’s current and future transportation needs without the political rhetoric and posturing we hear so much about from our elected officials.