News Update
Collin County tries to keep pace with Outer Loop, public transit
By Kelley Chambers, kchambers@starlocalnews.com, @KelleyChambers7 on Twitter
Three weeks after the Outer Loop Road's grand opening, transportation officials are now seeking community feedback for how public transit could also keep Collin County rolling.
The North Texas Council of Government (NCTCOG) is conducting a transit needs assessment and planning study, which will evaluate transit demands and service options for Collin County. The study will identify transportation needs and create options that could be implemented in the next three to five years.
McKinney residents will have an opportunity to learn about the study and speak to NCTCOG representatives at an input meeting this Tuesday from 5 - 6 p.m. at the McKinney Performing Arts Center, Gallery Room, 111 N. Tennessee St.
Two other public input meetings are also scheduled for Frisco earlier the same day, and in Plano on Oct. 31. An online survey will also be available next week soliciting opinions from the public.
Key elements of the study will include surveys tailored for stakeholders, transit users and the overall community. The study, which is expected to be completed in approximately six to seven months, will also review existing transit services and travel patterns, as well as land uses and demographic information.
"This area has grown so much over the last decade, even within the last five years, if we continue to grow like this without some widespread public transit, it would be an oversight we don't want to make," said Samantha Gleinser, planner for the city of McKinney. "These are short term transit options. We're not looking into something like DART, which would be 10 to 20 years down the road."
The NCTCOG hired Nelson/Nygaard Consulting Associates, a transportation planning firm, to lead the study. The company has led similar transit needs assessments and planning studies across the U.S. It recently completed the Long Range Service Plan for Denton County and is currently working with DART on its mobility management services. Working with NCTCOG, Nelson/Nygaard will soon be initiating similar transit needs assessments in Rockwall, Ellis, Kaufman and Tarrant counties, as well.
"The focus [of the meetings] is on local and countywide public transit needs for a study looking at whether additional local bus services are needed in Collin County," said Joey Goldman, principal planner for Nelson/Nygaard.
Transportation has been at a primary concern for Collin County as it continues to grow in status. The county ranks one of the top areas for growth in the state and the nation, with its population climbing more than 52 percent by 2009 since the 2000 census.
Local officials and residents celebrated the official opening of the Collin County Outer Loop on Oct. 8, representing the first stretch of a multi-jurisdictional construction project first conceived by the Commissioners Court in 2002. Segment One, as it has been called, consists of a 2-lane highway running 4.6 miles through open land between Melissa and Anna, connecting State Highway 121 on the east and U.S. 75 on the west. Officials said they hope the loop will alleviate traffic from 121.
Carrying a price tag of more than $21 million, this segment is part of the NCTCOG's Mobility 2035 plan. Upon completion, the entire Outer Loop project will circle the northern and eastern parts of Collin County, linking to similar loops in Rockwall County to the south and Denton County to the west.
Highway expansion is just one piece of the transportation pie, however, Goldman said. Transit, along with safe roads, bike lanes, trails and sidewalks make up a complete transportation system. Transit also prevents people without cars from being isolated, provides an alternative for people who prefer not to drive, can help reduce traffic congestion and is a lot cheaper than operating a car, he said.
"We've talked to a number of people who are skeptical about transit, but I think a lot of people recognize that Collin County is changing," Goldman said. "There are many different ways to provide transit, including regular bus routes. In rural portions of Collin County, flexible and on-demand bus services might provide some mobility options, so we're not really looking at big busses running all over the county."
Public transit is not a new concept in Collin County, as the Collin County Area Regional Transit (CCART) provides local fixed routes in parts of McKinney and demand-response service throughout Collin County, and DART provides service in Plano. There's no regularly scheduled transit in Frisco, Allen or the rest of the county, however.
"In fact, investment in transit outside of Plano has not really changed," Goldman said. "In McKinney, service has actually been reduced in recent years while the population has increased. The focus of the study is to understand where demands for transit might exist, figure out what Collin County residents want for their transportation options, develop alternatives and determine what type of financial support there might be to make changes."
Collin County Commissioner Joe Jaynes said he felt bus systems would be the more feasible option for public transit.
"[Train systems] are very, very expensive and very, very limited," he said.
A full public transit system and the completion of the Outer Loop are probably projects that won't be seen in our lifetime, said Jaynes. With roughly 49 percent of Collin County residents working in Collin County, Jaynes said traffic will ease when that number goes up.
"I just have doubts of the sustainability and the timing of it," Jaynes said. "The only way we're going to end congestion is to have more folks who live in Collin County to work in Collin County. Economic development is going to solve to your problem."
For information about the project and upcoming input meetings, visit accesscollin.org or collin.tx.us.
The North Texas Council of Government (NCTCOG) is conducting a transit needs assessment and planning study, which will evaluate transit demands and service options for Collin County. The study will identify transportation needs and create options that could be implemented in the next three to five years.
McKinney residents will have an opportunity to learn about the study and speak to NCTCOG representatives at an input meeting this Tuesday from 5 - 6 p.m. at the McKinney Performing Arts Center, Gallery Room, 111 N. Tennessee St.
Two other public input meetings are also scheduled for Frisco earlier the same day, and in Plano on Oct. 31. An online survey will also be available next week soliciting opinions from the public.
Key elements of the study will include surveys tailored for stakeholders, transit users and the overall community. The study, which is expected to be completed in approximately six to seven months, will also review existing transit services and travel patterns, as well as land uses and demographic information.
"This area has grown so much over the last decade, even within the last five years, if we continue to grow like this without some widespread public transit, it would be an oversight we don't want to make," said Samantha Gleinser, planner for the city of McKinney. "These are short term transit options. We're not looking into something like DART, which would be 10 to 20 years down the road."
The NCTCOG hired Nelson/Nygaard Consulting Associates, a transportation planning firm, to lead the study. The company has led similar transit needs assessments and planning studies across the U.S. It recently completed the Long Range Service Plan for Denton County and is currently working with DART on its mobility management services. Working with NCTCOG, Nelson/Nygaard will soon be initiating similar transit needs assessments in Rockwall, Ellis, Kaufman and Tarrant counties, as well.
"The focus [of the meetings] is on local and countywide public transit needs for a study looking at whether additional local bus services are needed in Collin County," said Joey Goldman, principal planner for Nelson/Nygaard.
Transportation has been at a primary concern for Collin County as it continues to grow in status. The county ranks one of the top areas for growth in the state and the nation, with its population climbing more than 52 percent by 2009 since the 2000 census.
Local officials and residents celebrated the official opening of the Collin County Outer Loop on Oct. 8, representing the first stretch of a multi-jurisdictional construction project first conceived by the Commissioners Court in 2002. Segment One, as it has been called, consists of a 2-lane highway running 4.6 miles through open land between Melissa and Anna, connecting State Highway 121 on the east and U.S. 75 on the west. Officials said they hope the loop will alleviate traffic from 121.
Carrying a price tag of more than $21 million, this segment is part of the NCTCOG's Mobility 2035 plan. Upon completion, the entire Outer Loop project will circle the northern and eastern parts of Collin County, linking to similar loops in Rockwall County to the south and Denton County to the west.
Highway expansion is just one piece of the transportation pie, however, Goldman said. Transit, along with safe roads, bike lanes, trails and sidewalks make up a complete transportation system. Transit also prevents people without cars from being isolated, provides an alternative for people who prefer not to drive, can help reduce traffic congestion and is a lot cheaper than operating a car, he said.
"We've talked to a number of people who are skeptical about transit, but I think a lot of people recognize that Collin County is changing," Goldman said. "There are many different ways to provide transit, including regular bus routes. In rural portions of Collin County, flexible and on-demand bus services might provide some mobility options, so we're not really looking at big busses running all over the county."
Public transit is not a new concept in Collin County, as the Collin County Area Regional Transit (CCART) provides local fixed routes in parts of McKinney and demand-response service throughout Collin County, and DART provides service in Plano. There's no regularly scheduled transit in Frisco, Allen or the rest of the county, however.
"In fact, investment in transit outside of Plano has not really changed," Goldman said. "In McKinney, service has actually been reduced in recent years while the population has increased. The focus of the study is to understand where demands for transit might exist, figure out what Collin County residents want for their transportation options, develop alternatives and determine what type of financial support there might be to make changes."
Collin County Commissioner Joe Jaynes said he felt bus systems would be the more feasible option for public transit.
"[Train systems] are very, very expensive and very, very limited," he said.
A full public transit system and the completion of the Outer Loop are probably projects that won't be seen in our lifetime, said Jaynes. With roughly 49 percent of Collin County residents working in Collin County, Jaynes said traffic will ease when that number goes up.
"I just have doubts of the sustainability and the timing of it," Jaynes said. "The only way we're going to end congestion is to have more folks who live in Collin County to work in Collin County. Economic development is going to solve to your problem."
For information about the project and upcoming input meetings, visit accesscollin.org or collin.tx.us.
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