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These stories are related to the proposed toll road to connect Greenville and Lavon.

'Northeast Gateway' topic at Sept. 4 Lavon forum

Texas Turnpike Corp.
This graphic shows possible routes for a a proposed toll road connecting Greenville with the President George Bush Turnpike.

The North Central Texas Council of Governments Transportation Division is hosting another public forum on theongoing Blacklands Corridor study next Thursday.

The public meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 4 at NeSmith Elementary School, 801 Presidents Blvd. in Lavon.

The Blacklands Corridor Feasibility Study is an ongoing assessment of transportation needs in a wide area from Greenville to Garland. The study area stretches from U.S. Hwy. 380 in the north to Interstate 30 in the south and includes portions of Collin, Dallas, Hunt and Rockwall counties.

A private firm, Texas Turnpike Corp., has identified several options as possible locations for a toll road connecting Greenville with the President George Bush Turnpike in far northeastern Dallas County. In 2013, the company suggested the old Cotton Belt Railroad right-of-way as a location for the road, but during the first months of the feasibility study, the North Central Texas Council of Governments rejected that as a possible route.

A revised plan from Texas Turnpike Corp. has presented several options for a "Northeast Gateway" toll road. All of the suggested routes would pass through or near the far southeastern Collin County community of Josephine.

A summary of the current status of the process can be found here, at the North Central Texas Council of Governments website.

Mark Haslett has served at KETR since 2013. Since then, the station's news operation has enjoyed an increase in listener engagement and audience metrics, as well recognition in the Texas AP Broadcasters awards.