[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6587079,"mediaKeyId","5689762-08fa22b42b86bb8814d4674ed6d54a20","parentId",5689762,"title","Consultants urge Rockwall County to update thoroughfare plan to reflect rapid growth","audioSeconds",2657,"startMs",62000,"endMs",2719000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5689762-08fa22b42b86bb8814d4674ed6d54a20&start=62&end=2719","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5689762-08fa22b42b86bb8814d4674ed6d54a20/thumbnail_62000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6587079/Rockwall-County/Texas/Consultants-urge-Rockwall-County-to-update-thoroughfare-plan-to-reflect-rapid-growth","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587079-84f8fc27cee70f8e7be0edb82ed69abc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770419133&Signature=B9VHB-H89n3u8hcM4t9Mqq5UnO~kuoauZj3RYNgODcGlEn0-kAO-RTdZhsaOeL6WuNVvhcuYzxwGh14HXYBJaDF3TVQEYPOhZa-gtf717RgBLAIhzCnQXZ3MJgtsys0OC12LiQGKEYFEIA6p2YKE55zbSLpV1ZitgtDnRDHbT5RYnAtC5Fiy2mR2b0Ir09~YgAr~OpTCFB98UcO9eC56PzSZ0dk4J1IrB0it6rcrVCIKPKNIL7C3zAbs2LlrdNFwrMsneUZ9qnU-4AcNlnJ342NyQ8euyGzocbdE6-Gfc8YJeeQwWUQOnd1IspoyOspdYL3GOaFozykMhCatc6emSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Rockwall County Texas","date","2025-08-27T00:00:00Z","article","Friese Nichols consultants outlined why Rockwall County should update its master thoroughfare plan during an Aug. 27 workshop, telling the Commissioners Court that population growth, regional planning changes and recent county policy shifts make an update timely.

Connor Roberts, lead presenter for Friese Nichols, said the firm prepared Rockwall County’s 2019 Thoroughfare Plan and recommended routine five‑year reviews and more substantive updates every five to ten years. Roberts noted the county’s population has increased by about 30,000 since 2019 and said an updated map, travel modeling and coordinated municipal input would give the court current technical guidance when it considers development applications.

“Keeping pace with changing population and demographics is always front of mind,” Roberts said, describing the update as a way to maintain continuity with municipal and regional plans and to improve coordination with the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) and adjacent counties.

Eddie Haas, Friese Nichols’ transportation planning manager, emphasized safety and fiscal stewardship as central goals. Haas showed crash‑index data from neighboring counties and urged that arterial corridors be preserved early to avoid higher future costs for right‑of‑way acquisition. He described the plan as a “living document” that sets high‑level corridors rather than final alignments or property lines.

The consultants walked the court through technical approaches and budgets. Options included a lower‑cost engagement using existing COG data and limited modeling (roughly in the low hundreds of thousands of dollars) and a full model and public‑engagement approach that would be more expensive, with the largest scopes requiring a full regional travel‑demand model update and scenario testing.

Friese Nichols also discussed administrative options for how the county might apportion road‑building costs. The firm described a “service unit” approach used in some cities — estimating thoroughfare implementation costs, converting those costs to a per‑service‑unit number, and comparing a development’s system impact to that unit cost so developers pay a proportionate share. The consultants cautioned that “state law doesn’t allow for that right now” at the county level and advised seeking county attorney guidance on defensible approaches; they said they have implemented capital‑recovery approaches for cities and city ETJs but not for counties under current state law.

The consultant team recommended robust stakeholder outreach — steering committees, school districts, developers, TxDOT and NCTCOG participation, online surveys and town halls — and suggested a GIS dashboard to make plan maps and programmed projects easy to explore.

Why it matters: commissioners repeatedly said they want a current technical basis for right‑of‑way dedications, impact apportionment and bonding decisions. The court discussed using bond proceeds to pay for higher‑quality planning and whether to preserve corridor footprints ahead of intensive development in the county’s ETJs.

The presentation concluded with the consultants offering to return with a scope and cost options if the court wants to proceed.

Ending: Commissioners used the presentation as the starting point for a later discussion about forming a working committee to scope the update and to consider funding in an upcoming bond issuance.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Rockwall County Texas - Commissioners Court Workshop Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Friese Nichols consultants outlined why Rockwall County should update its master thoroughfare plan during an Aug. 27 workshop, telling the Commissioners Court that population growth, regional planning changes and recent county policy shifts make an update timely.","taxTitle","Rockwall County, Texas","taxId",54914,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6587069,"Rockwall County reviews submitted road projects, weighs bond funding and TxDOT reliance",564,4345000,4909000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5689762-08fa22b42b86bb8814d4674ed6d54a20&start=4345&end=4909","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5689762-08fa22b42b86bb8814d4674ed6d54a20/thumbnail_4345000.jpg","/articles/6587069/Rockwall-County/Texas/Rockwall-County-reviews-submitted-road-projects-weighs-bond-funding-and-TxDOT-reliance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587069-4785ed0eb88f4cdca2479932c699dd93/orig.mp4?Expires=1770419133&Signature=P7jNgYdZyWMIx3kjA2yWfuKC09pJiw9dPohfqHEERIr7OZev2rB4~czCAAuIGO6Ay7RBbRmJpLd8VjLu-XL7Fup3d3X81vnsH2mZIP6bIsx2kaoZOz9BgqD3~UORjBy9l9t02y9Swf-X1GieH6yy1J6XkhumshC-OQTvyyRE7jkGhiT~bFo80pYcwWOHwMkri2zGER4x4UOmbisePhC6o5cBWp5r-ATsoXhj0-f9ZY5WipquE2DDZMELGIGPj5byaDBpT3j5yoLXinYVtIMptHeMPFF3RXR3amDlpGXmkBe-VsOFSRorQrnVghZKHbwlROtwc05HIUVcoQDJZxqxkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County staff and municipal representatives used the Aug. 27 workshop to review submitted road projects proposed for bond funding and to discuss how to sequence limited county dollars.

Brenda (county staff) presented two spreadsheets: the original 2021 bond master list and a 2021 reprioritization list. City and county speakers then summarized project status, cost estimates and funding needs.

City of Fate: Michael Kovacs (City of Fate) said the city’s top priority remains Ben Paine Road, a multi‑phase corridor project tied to an upcoming I‑30 interchange. Kimley‑Horn estimates for the full Ben Paine project (engineering, right‑of‑way, utilities and construction) ranged from about $17 million to $19 million. The county’s historical commitment was to provide a 20% local match; that 20% share is roughly $3.8 million in a first issuance but would not by itself fund full construction. Fate’s other priorities include segments of FM 551 and FM 552; staff recommended funding planning or PS&E for corridor segments to make them shovel‑ready for TxDOT.

Heath and FM corridors: Heath representatives asked the court to prioritize FM 740 (schematic/advanced planning), FM 3097 (construction documents) and FM 549. Staff said FM 549 is largely funded by TxDOT and the project was “ready to let,” and the county could consider a county match commitment to accelerate letting. McLendon‑Chisholm and Rockwall city representatives requested advanced planning funds for corridor studies such as FM 1141 and a feasibility study for Horizon Road.

Rockwall City: Rockwall city officials asked for a $2 million county commitment to help the Village Drive railroad‑bridge replacement local match (an interlocal cooperation agreement would be used). Rockwall asked the county to consider advanced planning funds for FM 1141 and a feasibility/schematic study for Horizon Road (estimated ~$1.49M for advanced planning).

Royse City: Royce City representatives asked the county to fund PS&E on FM 548 ($3.2M) and provided an estimate of $7.5M for a PS&E packet for a north segment of the outer loop (first two‑lane frontage road). Royce City also asked for a county‑funded corridor study of State Highway 66 intersections that would include John King Road, John King‑to‑Irby Campbell improvements and other intersection work that spans multiple jurisdictions.

County projects and maintenance: Several commissioners raised county roads that need near‑term work, including Poetry Road (intersection issues at FM 548 and changing alignment to improve safety), Wallace Road (dirt to paved upgrade), and North County Line Road (paving to support school access and future traffic flows). Staff suggested on‑call engineering contracts or scoped “cut‑sheet” plans for lower‑complexity projects to speed construction and keep engineering costs predictable.

TxDOT reliance and strategy: Municipal presenters emphasized that several large projects are dependent on TxDOT funding, and county officials discussed using partial bond proceeds as leverage (for example, offering a county match that would be released to TxDOT within 60 days prior to contract letting). Staff warned of risks including TxDOT’s programming timelines and potential arbitrage issues if bond funds sit unused while awaiting a TxDOT letting.

Where things stand: Commissioners generally expressed willingness to support a mix of projects — some locally controlled projects the county can advance through interlocal agreements and local paving, and other projects where county matching funds may be used strategically to try to accelerate TxDOT‑funded work. No formal bond allocations or votes were taken; staff will return a refined funding proposal and a formal agenda item for court action.

Ending: Staff asked participating cities to confirm priorities and cost details so the court can prepare a bond issuance schedule and a prioritized project list for formal approval.","County staff and municipal representatives reviewed more than 20 proposed road projects and preliminary cost estimates during the Aug. 27 workshop. Several projects require TxDOT funding; others were presented as local interlocal cooperation agreements (ICAs) that the county could help match with bond proceeds.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6587074,"Rockwall Commissioners agree to form small working group to scope thoroughfare plan update",452,3826000,4278000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5689762-08fa22b42b86bb8814d4674ed6d54a20&start=3826&end=4278","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5689762-08fa22b42b86bb8814d4674ed6d54a20/thumbnail_3826000.jpg","/articles/6587074/Rockwall-County/Texas/Rockwall-Commissioners-agree-to-form-small-working-group-to-scope-thoroughfare-plan-update","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587074-9df8faf66b8e9d8c8caa411798b34d69/orig.mp4?Expires=1770419133&Signature=AWn8a59eq3tWZQHS7o2LWTaTSK~pct29v9uh68-X9QAwJhoNqFlXfavBze6plm8ygMo0bkvERKw4L0IV0l7uGxj5C3~DzAAXyO4DXbe51fyILdFRD-sBg7m8AprXk97A1McHw68iM-wnU~9aeLZbbfVXzX48KEwTu-AB148fdqtMJAdwnZox2BpFVwXIY3c5SHgeC1lujtFKmXVKWj2~phOaofjJbr21qVrExCqxYhS6d1ZVs2lQ3o5r~F8Q3Hm5qmHhKiyW8LdsvCTlIwKKdu9to-6Ywdw9eSn3D6HR-Vn6O6ko5XXvCKQT7hKvDtpfqMCS2eFFBcFDMnaWSOBjXw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the Aug. 27 workshop Commissioners discussed next steps after the Friese Nichols presentation and directed staff to assemble a formal committee proposal to return to court for a vote. Several commissioners said they favored a small working group to develop the recommended scope, budget and sequencing for a plan update and to balance technical needs with limited staff time.

Judge Heath and Commissioners signaled support for a compact group composed of a commissioner representative, the county engineer, county attorney and a staff GIS representative along with a Friese Nichols liaison. Commissioner Lichty volunteered to be a court representative; the court asked staff to verify availability of county engineer Erica Bridges and County Attorney Craig (full name not provided on the record) and to return the committee membership for formal approval at the next court meeting.

Court members discussed using bond proceeds to pay for a higher‑level update in order to produce the “exhibit A” planning documentation that could be used in development negotiations and potential legal challenges. Commissioners emphasized that the committee should produce a clear recommendation on scope and cost before the county commits scarce bond funds.

No formal vote to start a project contract was recorded in the workshop. The court instructed staff to draft an ordinance or agenda item for a future meeting that would formally create the committee and return proposed scope, schedule and budget options for the court’s consideration.

Ending: Court members asked staff to return with a proposed committee membership and a written scope and cost for the court to vote on at an upcoming public meeting.","County commissioners directed staff to return a formal committee proposal and scope for a thoroughfare‑plan update, with a small working committee proposed to include county engineering, county attorney, one or two commissioners and consultant representation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Consultants urge Rockwall County to update thoroughfare plan to reflect rapid growth

Rockwall County reviews submitted road projects, weighs bond funding and TxDOT reliance

Rockwall Commissioners agree to form small working group to scope thoroughfare plan update