Forney, Texas – According to Forney's Assistant City Manager Gina Nash, two traffic signal feasibility requests have been made to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for the entrance/exit of Forney Community Park and the intersection of South Chestnut Street and College Avenue/Farm-to-Market (FM) 741.
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Many drivers are aware of the dangers on FM 548 near the Forney Community Park where frustrated drivers often wait in very long lines leaving the softball fields, soccer fields, the Mick Spellman Amphitheater, and many of the park's other amenities – attempting to turn into 55 mile-per-hour oncoming traffic.
This isn't the first time the studies have been conducted or mentioned, said Nash. At the Forney Community Park, the study was conducted last year during the summer and deemed unwarranted by TxDOT – at a time when soccer and softball are out of season and school was not in session. The signal study on College Avenue was delayed due to ongoing construction which could affect the numbers because of closures and other construction delays.
According to Nash, the new requests have been made with the stipulation they be conducted during peak sports seasons and while school is in session – to accurately track real traffic data. The studies will track total traffic and rate of speed to determine the feasibility of a traffic signal. If the initial traffic counts warrant further study, TxDOT will also measure traffic congestion.
Unfortunately, the studies could take months. Forney is in TxDOT's Dallas District's office and competes for traffic study time with cities from all over the greater Dallas area.
So why haven't the traffic signals been constructed sooner? Forney is a “TxDOT city,” a term used by many local officials. Most of the major roads traveled by daily drivers are TxDOT roads: FM 548; FM 1641; FM 741; FM 740; and U.S. Highway 80. Nothing can happen on these roads without first being approved by TxDOT.
Funding is also a major issue. Each traffic signal costs several hundred thousand dollars, according to Nash. Fortunately for drivers on the north side of FM 548, the City of Forney was able to work the purchase and construction of a traffic signal near Kroger during the development talks. The developers of the Forney Marketplace will fund the new signal which is expected to go live before the store's opening on January 24, 2014.
A traffic signal at Ridgecrest Road is also planned to be constructed and functional in April 2014.
This isn't the first time the studies have been conducted or mentioned, said Nash. At the Forney Community Park, the study was conducted last year during the summer and deemed unwarranted by TxDOT – at a time when soccer and softball are out of season and school was not in session. The signal study on College Avenue was delayed due to ongoing construction which could affect the numbers because of closures and other construction delays.
According to Nash, the new requests have been made with the stipulation they be conducted during peak sports seasons and while school is in session – to accurately track real traffic data. The studies will track total traffic and rate of speed to determine the feasibility of a traffic signal. If the initial traffic counts warrant further study, TxDOT will also measure traffic congestion.
Unfortunately, the studies could take months. Forney is in TxDOT's Dallas District's office and competes for traffic study time with cities from all over the greater Dallas area.
So why haven't the traffic signals been constructed sooner? Forney is a “TxDOT city,” a term used by many local officials. Most of the major roads traveled by daily drivers are TxDOT roads: FM 548; FM 1641; FM 741; FM 740; and U.S. Highway 80. Nothing can happen on these roads without first being approved by TxDOT.
Funding is also a major issue. Each traffic signal costs several hundred thousand dollars, according to Nash. Fortunately for drivers on the north side of FM 548, the City of Forney was able to work the purchase and construction of a traffic signal near Kroger during the development talks. The developers of the Forney Marketplace will fund the new signal which is expected to go live before the store's opening on January 24, 2014.
A traffic signal at Ridgecrest Road is also planned to be constructed and functional in April 2014.