Timing Is Key for $500 Million Bond Election for New Highways in Fast-growing Collin County

MCKINNEY -- Collin County commissioners are committed to spending more than half a billion dollars on new freeways in the coming years. But pinpointing the timing of that expense is the looming question. With a recommendation from the county planning board, the commission was poised on Monday to consider calling a bond election for November. But discussions revealed a split on how to proceed.Commissioners Duncan Webb and Susan Fletcher wanted an election this fall so money would be available sooner to improve mobility. But the remaining three commissioners wanted more specifics in the plan to ensure buy-in from taxpayers. "We need consensus on this court before we move forward," County Judge Keith Self said. "We ought to have a county vision to build these new highways." Getting focusedThe focus has been on the extension of U.S. Highway 380, particularly west of U.S. Highway 75, an extension of Spur 399 east of the end of the Sam Rayburn Tollway, a north-south route in the peninsula of Lake Lavon and the Outer Loop west of U.S. Highway 75. But exact routes are on hold until the Texas Department of Transportation conducts feasibility studies. That could takes months.And citizen support could depend on which routes are chosen. Commissioners talked about waiting until November 2018 to hold a bond election, but no decision was made.  Continue reading...