TxDOT, NE Texas Railway provide transportation updates at Chamber Lunch & Learn
Road projects, I-30 expansion, safety improvements and regional rail investment were among the topics discussed during the Sept. 22 program.
Representatives from the Texas Department of Transportation and NE Texas Railway provided updates on road construction, transportation safety, Interstate 30 improvements and rail investment during the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce’s Lunch & Learn: Transportation on Sept. 22.
The program was held at the Grays Building at Pacific Park.
Dan Perry with TxDOT’s Paris District and Jesse Herrera, representing Hopkins and Franklin counties, were introduced during the program, along with Joey Evans of NE Texas Railway.
The TxDOT representatives discussed recently completed projects as well as work underway and planned throughout the area.
Among the completed projects discussed were improvements to Wildcat Way, which were finished before the beginning of the school session, and a full rehabilitation of Highway 19 South from Wildcat Way to the county line. The Highway 19 project included safety and drainage improvements. Resurfacing work on the Broadway bridge has also been completed.
Several other projects remain underway.
TxDOT reported that a bridge deck over I-30 is expected to be removed and replaced to provide additional clearance. Mobilization was expected by the end of September, with construction anticipated to take approximately 30 to 40 days.
In Franklin County, work on FM 21 is nearing completion, with the final surface remaining. The project is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Work is also underway in the Saltillo school area, where a roadway is being widened to 28 feet and additional safety features are being added. Base work has begun.
Safety and pedestrian improvements
School zones and pedestrian safety were also among the topics addressed by TxDOT.
The agency has focused on school-zone improvements, including the installation of crosswalks at several elementary schools. Additional lighting and speed-sign improvements are also being considered for another area, pending final approval.
Plans are also underway for sidewalk improvements along Broadway to replace aging or missing sections.
TxDOT representatives said the agency has had authority since 2021-22 to construct and repair sidewalks and has undertaken that work throughout the Paris District.
Additional overhead safety lighting has been installed at some intersections, and more lighting projects are planned.
Another future safety project will include widening a farm-to-market roadway and upgrading guardrails in an area where accidents have occurred.
TxDOT is also planning replacement of bridges at Town Branch on Jefferson Street and North Jackson Street. Those projects are approximately two and a half years away, according to information presented during the meeting.
I-30 expansion continues
Long-range improvements to Interstate 30 were a major part of the transportation discussion.
A 2016 study recommended expanding I-30 to six main lanes — three in each direction — along with continuous one-way frontage roads.
Work has begun from the Rockwall County line eastward, and six overpasses west of Greenville are currently being built or rebuilt.
In Hopkins County, the first projects are expected to include reconstruction of the Hillcrest and Broadway interchanges to increase capacity. Plans include Texas U-turns.
A project intended to connect sections of the I-30 improvements is planned for 2030 but is approximately $60 million short of full funding, according to information presented at the meeting.
Additional widening is being planned in the Greenville area, with right-of-way acquisition underway and construction targeted to begin in 2029.
TxDOT representatives also discussed the effect of rising construction costs on the way projects are delivered. According to the presentation, construction costs have increased nearly 500% since the COVID period. As a result, the agency is looking at dividing large projects into smaller packages of approximately $100 million to $150 million in an effort to increase contractor competition and improve project delivery.
Construction-zone concerns were also raised during the meeting, including narrow lanes, traffic confined by barriers and access for emergency responders. TxDOT acknowledged the challenges involved in maintaining traffic while also providing a safe construction environment.
NE Texas Railway outlines investment plans
NE Texas Railway also discussed its operations and plans for the 66-mile rail corridor between Greenville and Winfield.
The railway took over operation of the line on July 6. Current operations are centered in Sulphur Springs through Freedom Terminals, where products can be transferred between rail and trucks for distribution.
Rail representatives said a single railcar can take the place of approximately four trucks on highways and described rail as an alternative for moving freight, particularly on longer hauls.
The railway has outlined a $48.05 million capital plan to rebuild the corridor and has submitted an application for a matching federal CRISI grant in that amount. A decision is expected in late October.
Representatives said the investment is expected to continue even if the grant is not awarded, although improvements would take place over a longer period.
The railway is planning its investments with future manufacturing and distribution growth in mind and has set a goal of helping bring approximately 100 jobs per year to the corridor.
Railway representatives also emphasized safety as activity increases along the line, reminding the public not to trespass on railroad tracks, including for photography.
The transportation updates highlighted both immediate construction work and longer-term plans that could reshape highway and rail infrastructure serving Hopkins County and the surrounding region.
