Accidents along US Highway 80 in Forney, Texas, near FM 460 have become all too common to area residents and commuters. One of the most affected areas is on eastbound US Highway 80 just after crossing under the FM 460 overpass. Drivers are confronted with a short-merging entrance ramp and an unmarked narrow bridge within feet of each other.
According to accident data from the Forney Police Department, on US Highway 80 between FM 460 and Pinson Road there were 212 accidents and two fatalities between 2010 and August 2013. Those incidents break down, as follows: 46 accidents and one fatality in 2010; 56 accidents and one fatality in 2011; 78 accidents and no fatalities in 2012; and 32 accidents from January to August in 2013 with no fatalities.
This dangerous section of highway is a Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) roadway so the City of Forney will be required to wait for approval and funding before moving forward with any roadway improvements. In an effort to be “shovel ready” on what the City of Forney is calling the “Liberty Hill project,” Forney City Council members approved an environmental study and schematics in late 2012 which are now close to completion. In the city's 2013-14 FY budget, council members have set aside another $200,000 for engineering and construction plans.
The Liberty Hill Project consists of three phases. Phase one is the environmental studies and schematics, phase two is the construction plans, and phase three is the construction of the new redesigned eastbound exit and entrance ramps. Upon completion, there will be two new exit ramps and one new entrance ramp on US Highway 80 between FM 460 and Pinson Road for safer travel.
The frontage road will be constructed to follow the highway instead of the left hand turn currently required near Kids of Clay Day Care. The frontage road will also be changed to a one-way road traveling eastbound.
The existing eastbound US Highway 80 entrance ramp at FM 460 will be demolished and a new exit ramp used to access Braod Street/FM 688 will be constructed. The existing Broad Street exit, near the replica Statue of Liberty and flags, will be demolished and a new Pinson Road/FM 740 exit will be constructed about a quarter of a mile east and will exit in front of Kids of Clay Day Care. A new safer US Highway 80 entrance ramp will be constructed before the Pinson Road bridge and will also eliminate the existing Pinson Road exit ramp in front of Dairy Queen.
Assistant City Manager Gina Nash said theoretically, with the completion of the study, schematics, and engineering and construction plans, the city should be able to hand over all the paperwork to TxDOT when funding becomes available. TxDOT will then be able to put the shovels in the ground without waiting to do the studies and plans themselves before starting the project. The City of Forney is potentially saving a year to two years on the timeline by doing the studies and plans in advance.
Of course, all of the work depends on the City of Forney and TxDOT solidifying funds for the project. Currently, there are two potential funding sources that may be available.
The City of Forney used the accident data to request highway safety funds from TxDOT. The city has applied for the funds and expect a response from TxDOT in late October 2013. In this scenario, the City of Forney would be responsible for 10% of the project and TxDOT would fund the remaining 90% and would manage all the construction.
Funding for the project is also included in the proposed Kaufman County Transportation Bond. If approved by Kaufman County voters, the bond would fund the total project cost estimated at $2.5 million. The transportation bond is moving forward in the County Commissioners' Court and a county-wide vote is expected on November 5, 2013.
Both funding options only include ramp re-design and construction between FM 460 and Pinson Road and neither calls for the widening of the four narrow bridges in that stretch of highway. Also, neither funding option is guaranteed until either TxDOT approves the application for highway safety dollars or Kaufman County taxpayers approve the county transportation bond. In either instance, Nash says the earliest construction can begin on the project is early 2015.
This dangerous section of highway is a Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) roadway so the City of Forney will be required to wait for approval and funding before moving forward with any roadway improvements. In an effort to be “shovel ready” on what the City of Forney is calling the “Liberty Hill project,” Forney City Council members approved an environmental study and schematics in late 2012 which are now close to completion. In the city's 2013-14 FY budget, council members have set aside another $200,000 for engineering and construction plans.
The Liberty Hill Project consists of three phases. Phase one is the environmental studies and schematics, phase two is the construction plans, and phase three is the construction of the new redesigned eastbound exit and entrance ramps. Upon completion, there will be two new exit ramps and one new entrance ramp on US Highway 80 between FM 460 and Pinson Road for safer travel.
The frontage road will be constructed to follow the highway instead of the left hand turn currently required near Kids of Clay Day Care. The frontage road will also be changed to a one-way road traveling eastbound.
The existing eastbound US Highway 80 entrance ramp at FM 460 will be demolished and a new exit ramp used to access Braod Street/FM 688 will be constructed. The existing Broad Street exit, near the replica Statue of Liberty and flags, will be demolished and a new Pinson Road/FM 740 exit will be constructed about a quarter of a mile east and will exit in front of Kids of Clay Day Care. A new safer US Highway 80 entrance ramp will be constructed before the Pinson Road bridge and will also eliminate the existing Pinson Road exit ramp in front of Dairy Queen.
Assistant City Manager Gina Nash said theoretically, with the completion of the study, schematics, and engineering and construction plans, the city should be able to hand over all the paperwork to TxDOT when funding becomes available. TxDOT will then be able to put the shovels in the ground without waiting to do the studies and plans themselves before starting the project. The City of Forney is potentially saving a year to two years on the timeline by doing the studies and plans in advance.
Of course, all of the work depends on the City of Forney and TxDOT solidifying funds for the project. Currently, there are two potential funding sources that may be available.
The City of Forney used the accident data to request highway safety funds from TxDOT. The city has applied for the funds and expect a response from TxDOT in late October 2013. In this scenario, the City of Forney would be responsible for 10% of the project and TxDOT would fund the remaining 90% and would manage all the construction.
Funding for the project is also included in the proposed Kaufman County Transportation Bond. If approved by Kaufman County voters, the bond would fund the total project cost estimated at $2.5 million. The transportation bond is moving forward in the County Commissioners' Court and a county-wide vote is expected on November 5, 2013.
Both funding options only include ramp re-design and construction between FM 460 and Pinson Road and neither calls for the widening of the four narrow bridges in that stretch of highway. Also, neither funding option is guaranteed until either TxDOT approves the application for highway safety dollars or Kaufman County taxpayers approve the county transportation bond. In either instance, Nash says the earliest construction can begin on the project is early 2015.