Rockwall County’s growth is outstripping its transportation infrastructure’s capacity to keep pace.
To make it right, the North Central Texas Coalition of Governments and the Texas Department of Transportation – along with county officials – are planning some serious overhauls of the highway system that courses through the county.
What is the history of this project? It goes back a good while. The saga begins in 2002, when Gov. Rick Perry directed TxDOT to develop a statewide network of transportation improvements – covering many modes of transportation – to meet the growth demands of the 21st century; and those demands have been stupendous in communities throughout North and Northeast Texas, as city and county officials can attest.
For example, Rockwall’s population grew by nearly 10,000 inhabitants between 2010 and 2020 and has added another 2,500 people since the 2020 Census. Royse City saw an even greater population percentage increase between 2010 and 2020 and has added as many new residents since the 2020 Census as its much larger neighbor, Rockwall.
Rockwall County in 2005 began reaching out to seek community comment on possible Rockwall County routes for the portion of an outer loop around Dallas-Fort Worth.
Two years after that, in 2007, the NCTCOG included a “regional outer loop” in its Mobility 2030 master plan as a relief route for the D/FW Metroplex.
Then came the NCTCOG Regional Outer Loop Feasibility Study released in 2011, which included two corridors on the east side of the region. NCTCOG developed Paths A and B, with Path A traveling through Rockwall County and Path B going through Hunt County.
Now comes the fine-tuning, which has begun with Rockwall County, working with TxDOT, to refine the county’s portion of the Outer Loop.
Why build a loop in the first place? TxDOT cites several compelling reasons for constructing it. It declares in a position paper that the county has a “lack of north-south connectivity within Rockwall County.” It declares further that there is “inadequate capacity to meet projected traffic volumes,” which is a common theme throughout North Texas communities. There also is a “lack of suitable, continuous north-south major arterials in the project vicinity.”
Attempts to reach Rockwall County Judge David Sweet for comments on the Outer Loop project were unsuccessful.
How does construction of a loop solve those issues? The TxDOT analysis that it would “provide an additional north-south roadway in Rockwall County.” It would “meet local and regional mobility needs.” The loop would “enhance safety” for motorists and it would “foster economic development and growth.”
TxDOT has laid out what it calls a “project description” of the highway work to be completed. It declares, “A feasibility study is being conducted for a 12-mile, new location roadway from Farm-to-Market Road 1138 to Texas Highway 205 in Rockwall County.” It notes that the study involves studying “alternatives” in or near Fate, Royse City, McClendon-Chisholm and Rockwall.”
The proposed configuration, according to TxDOT, “would consist of a two-lane frontage road in each direction, four general purpose lanes (two in each direction) and two shared-use bicycle/pedestrian paths … within 500 feet of the right-of-way.” The feasibility study and alternative analysis “are being conducted to identify a preferred alternative for the entire Rockwall County Outer Loop,” TxDOT states.
Of course, every project operates on a timeline. This one is no different. TxDOT estimates that by the second quarter of 2023 it will have identified a recommended alternative and will conduct a public meeting by the third quarter of the coming year. TxDOT plans to have a final draft of the loop schematic by the first quarter of 2024. It will conduct public hearing in early 2025 and by the end of 2025 it will have obtained “environmental clearance” that presumably would enable the state to begin construction.
Meanwhile, local officials will continue to wrestle with the staggering population growth occurring in the region, no doubt hoping the Outer Loop will be sufficient to relieve the growing traffic burden in Rockwall County.