Regional Transportation Council Approves $25.6M East Bear Creek Road Expansion
GLENN HEIGHTS—The Regional Transportation Council on Thursday approved $15.46 million in federal funding in renovations for Bear Creek Road. Specifically, the project includes reconstruction and widening of a two-mile stretch of East Bear Creek to four lanes with sidewalks.
The $25.6 million project is part of round two of a strategic partnerships program made possible through a combination of local, state and federal funds. The RTC approved federal funding will come through a combination of the Congestion Mitigation Air Quality Improvement Program and the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program.
This project, which includes the stretch of East Bear Creek Road between South Hampton Road and Interstate Highway 35E, also involves multiple partners contributing more than the standard 20 percent project match. For the road’s expansion, the Texas Department of Transportation, the City of Glenn Heights and Dallas County will contribute approximately 40 percent of the funding.
Mayor Leon Payton Tate said he is grateful to TxDOT, the RTC and Dallas County for their invaluable partnership on this exciting city-changing infrastructure project.
“East Bear Creek Road is a major gateway into our City,” says Tate. “Expanding this road from two to four lanes will serve as an economic catalyst that will provide amenities, and quality of life our citizens expect as the City of Glenn Heights turns 50 years old next year.”
The Regional Transportation Council (RTC) of the North Central Texas Council of Governments has served as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for regional transportation planning in the Dallas-Fort Worth area since 1974.
The MPO works in cooperation with the region’s transportation providers to address the complex transportation needs of the rapidly growing metropolitan area.
Glenn Heights Turns 50
The expansion will also include bicycle-pedestrian facilities built adjacent to the road and intersection improvements.
“Increased capacity for vehicles is important as our city grows,” Mayor Pro Tem Tony Bradley said. “And constructing a bicycle-pedestrian trail alongside East Bear Creek Road is equally important. We continue to improve the transportation and recreational options within the City of Glenn Heights.”
Soon, the engineering phase of the project is will commence in fiscal year 2019. Construction of the project is slated to begin in FY 2022.
In all, the RTC approved almost $50 million in federal funding for seven projects as part of the strategic partnerships initiative. Combined with local and state funding, the projects are worth an estimated $72 million.
Since 1966, NCTCOG, a voluntary association of local governments, seeks to assist in planning for common needs, cooperating for mutual benefit and coordinating for sound regional development. NCTCOG’s purpose is to strengthen both the individual and collective power of local governments and to help them recognize regional opportunities, eliminate unnecessary duplication and make joint decisions.