Richardson — TxDOT representatives updated the Richardson City Council on the US 75 HOV-to-technology-lanes project and outlined a schedule that includes a northbound HOV closure next year and continuing construction through 2026.

The update focused on traffic configuration, safety elements and how the lanes will operate. Jennifer Boerster, Collin County area engineer for TxDOT, said the project began in March 2024 and carries a price tag of about $57 million. She said the project is "currently ahead of schedule" for some work, particularly LED lighting installation, but warned that other elements such as barrier installation are harder to accelerate.

The project converts existing HOV lanes into so-called technology lanes. Boerster described the weekday operation as follows: southbound the lane will be general purpose 22 hours daily and reserved for HOV and certain low-emission motorcycles from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.; northbound it will be general purpose except for an HOV-only window from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. She said there is no tolling component and no electronic vehicle-occupancy detection built into the corridor: "There is not a tolling component to this job, and there is not an electronic monitoring system on how many people are in a vehicle. It is solely enforcement." (Jennifer Boerster.)

Boerster said drivers will notice permanent concrete median barrier replacing temporary pieces and removal of the pylons previously used to mark HOV lanes. She said the project expects to close the northbound HOV lane in the Richardson segment (from I-635 up toward the President George Bush Turnpike) for up to about 15 months, starting with work north of PGBT later this summer and moving south into Richardson with the closure beginning late summer or early fall 2025 and continuing into 2026.

Council members pressed TxDOT and city staff on enforcement and public messaging. Councilmember Justice asked whether police will pull vehicles over and how violations will be monitored; Boerster reiterated TxDOT is not an enforcement agency and said enforcement is a responsibility of law enforcement agencies. City staff confirmed the Richardson Police Department is authorized to enforce on US 75 and that state troopers or Dallas County deputies also may enforce on the corridor.

Council members also raised safety concerns tied to removing pylons and relying on striping and double white lines. Boerster said striping and lighting improvements are part of the project and that TxDOT monitors incidents districtwide and will revisit design and mitigations if a recurring safety problem emerges.

Why this matters: the US 75 corridor is heavily traveled through Richardson; changes to lane operations, physical barriers and enforcement practices can affect congestion, crash exposure and day-to-day travel for commuters and emergency responders.

Next steps: TxDOT will continue construction work through 2026, hold rating and sales activity for the project funding schedule with local officials as needed, and the council requested TxDOT clarify enforcement messaging and coordinate with Dallas County law enforcement about current enforcement status while construction is ongoing.

Quotes in context are taken from the meeting presentation and Q&A. The council did not take formal action on the project during the meeting.