The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has released the environmental impact statement (EIS) draft for its proposed expansion of Highway 380 from Prosper to McKinney.
The more-than-7,000-page EIS — required under federal law and released over the holidays — gives a glimpse at which option TxDOT prefers for the multibillion-dollar project.
The 16-mile Blue Alternative is the frontrunner for the US-380 bypass, according to the EIS.
Starting at a location at the intersection of Coit Road and US-380 in Prosper, the Blue Alternative would stretch out to the east to just before Ridge Road, where it turns north.
The proposed route then continues north before turning east near the intersection of Bloomdale Road and the future Ridge Road. From there, the route continues East until crossing US 75 and SH 5 before turning south and reconnecting with the existing US-380 near FM 1827.
Figure 2-10 shows that the Blue Alternative comprises segments A, E, and C.
“So, the segments are all options in a puzzle piece. And then the colors are the corridor room possibilities,” TxDOT spokeswoman Madison Schein told NBC 5. “So, you’ll hear letters when people are talking about a shorter part of this overall project.”
The project aims to manage congestion and improve east-west mobility and safety throughout the area.
However, the EIS also revealed how many residences and businesses the expansion could impact. The C route of the Blue Alternative would require the seizure of property from more than 20 homeowners and 35 business owners.
One business that stands to be affected is Karen Smith’s Tara Royal Equestrian Center, which opened less than 10 years ago. Her center includes a jumping arena, an indoor arena, 31 pastures, and houses 48 horses, including the McKinney Police Mounted Patrol.
The proposed highway route would cut through her driveway, creating noise that Smith said would harm her business.
“It will completely annihilate the peace and tranquility that we have right now, which is the reason I moved to this area of town,” Smith told NBC 5. “I would likely have to shut my business down. I mean, you cannot have a horse barn with a freeway running through the top of it.”
TxDOT said its decision on which option it prefers was made based on public comment.
“From listening to everyone doing their analysis, we have come up with a preferred alternative, and that is going to stay on the U.S. 380 alignment longer,” Schein said. “For any (improvement) project, our goal is to stay on the current alignment as much as possible. And so, this preferred alternative allows us to do that.”
The City of McKinney will discuss the potential expansion route during a work session on Tuesday, while TxDOT will make the final decision after its public meetings.
The first in-person meeting will be on February 16 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Collin County Courthouse Central Jury Room, located at 2100 Bloomdale Rd., McKinney.
A virtual meeting will also be held on February 16 for those unable to attend in person.
The second meeting will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on February 21 in the Rhea’s Mill Baptist Church gymnasium, located at 5733 N. Custer Road in McKinney.
TxDOT is also accepting public comments on the EIS until March 21.
After the public comment deadline passes, TxDOT has to consider and respond to each comment and make a final decision about the road design.
One final EIS is expected this summer. Construction on the project is slated to start in late 2025.
