Ever wonder why 75 has been such a mess lately?
A 15-mile stretch along Central Expressway from Interstate 635 to Exchange Parkway in Allen will soon be equipped with a high-occupancy vehicle lane expected to be complete in September.The $19 million project began in October 2006. According to Makram Bataineh, assistant area engineer for the Texas Department of Transportation, the project has been financed with federal, state and Dallas Area Rapid Transit funds.Bataineh said the project is 70 percent complete, and will include HOV lanes running both north and south.More than five miles of the stretch will run through Plano. Morgan Lyons, spokesperson for DART, said Plano DART officials worked with TxDOT during the design and construction processes.“This is something Plano definitely wanted to happen,” Lyons said. “We stayed involved and encouraged TxDOT while the construction contract was being negotiated.”He said in order to add the HOV lanes in Plano, engineers are using the inside shoulder for the HOV lane, and will reduce lane width from 12 feet to 11 feet. “This gives us an extra four feet to work with,” Lyons said. “There are many areas along Central that are very tight with the outside edges.”Instead of using concrete barriers, Bataineh said the cities agreed on plastic barriers.Bataineh said camaras will be installed at the major intersections, such as where George Bush Turnpike and Central Expressway meet, to enforce traffic laws and check for accidents.Lyons said DART police officers have jurisdiction over the HOV lanes, which cover 13 cities totaling 700 square miles.Besides thinning out traffic during rush hour, Plano City Council member Harry LaRosiliere said the lanes will make driving more efficient and environmentally friendly.“It’s a step in the right direction,” LaRosiliere said. “Fewer cars will equal more people car-pooling.”LaRosiliere said if a motorist drives an energy-efficient car, car-pooling won’t be necessary to use the HOV lane.“Reducing our carbon footprint is important for the well-being of the community and our planet,” said Melinda Sweney, Plano’s sustainability communications coordinator. “Car pooling or using a hybrid vehicle will reduce CO2 emissions and save money
