Even though a regional planning organization rescinded its recommendation for a toll road from Garland to Greenville, the controversial project is part of the state’s 10-year plan for transportation projects.
The Texas Transportation Commission in August included the Northeast Gateway, formerly called the Blacklands Corridor, before public meetings about the project were finished.
The most infamous of those meetings, held last month in Rockwall, spurred the North Central Texas Council of Governments last week to reverse a recommendation to include the road in the region’s long-term transportation plan.
Since the commission approved its plan, several cities along or near Northeast Gateway routes have passed formal resolutions or written letters opposing the project. They include Fate, Josephine, Lavon, Rockwall, Rowlett, Sachse and Wylie.
State Rep. Cindy Burkett, R-Garland, questioned the commission about its prior approval in a letter to chair Ted Houghton last week. The commission oversees the Texas Department of Transportation. Its Unified Transportation Plan is adopted each August and authorizes the development and planning of projects.
Burkett criticized state officials for voting “without taking into account public involvement.” Burkett did not respond to requests for comment.
Northeast Gateway is being developed by private company Texas Turnpike Corp. The company has the authority to use eminent domain for projects, but it has to follow environmental review procedures similar to public entities that build roads. TxDOT is overseeing that process.
TxDOT spokesman Tony Hartzel said the agency included the project in its plan to track the costs incurred in reviewing environmental documents the developer submits.
In her letter, Burkett also questioned how many public comments the commission received about the project. She also asked how much money and resources TxDOT has spent on the project so far.
Hartzel said the agency has received her letter. He said the agency could not answer other questions until it sends a response to Burkett.
“We have an obligation to respond to the representative first,” he said.
NCTOCG’s transportation council is expected to vote next month on its planning document, called Mobility 2035. If the Regional Transportation Council follows council of governments staffers’ recommendation to exclude the project, the Texas Transportation Commission could review its plan
State transportation officials have said they will not back projects opposed by local officials. The commission in August indicated it would not support NCTCOG’s plans to add managed toll lanes on Central Expressway north of LBJ Freeway after several local officials opposed the idea. That forced the council of governments to shelve its plans.
Hartzel said the regional and state entities’ plans influence each other, but they are not completely dependent on one another.
“They do cross paths, but they’re not mutually exclusive,” he said.
It’s not yet known how the project will be affected by NCTCOG staffers pulling support. Company officials did not respond to a request for comment. It’s unclear how likely or willing the company will be to undertake an environmental review of a project that doesn’t have enough support to make it into the region’s transportation plan.
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