TxDot meeting set to discuss FM 664

WAXAHACHIE – While it is not certain the timeframe on such a project, TxDot is gearing up to inform residents in Ellis County about the possibility of work to be done on 7.8 miles of road.

The idea to widen the 7.8 miles on Farm to Market 664 from 287 in Waxahachie to Westmoreland Road in Ovilla is still in the beginning stages.

A public meeting will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. March 5 at the Waxahachie Civic Center to discuss the proposal.

An open house with no formal presentation, TxDot representatives and project consultants will present planned improvements while also receiving comment on the proposed project.

The project, if greenlighted, will consist of the reconstruction, realigning and widening of FM 664 from US 287 to Westmore-land Road.

Ovilla Mayor Richard Dormier said regarding the planned improvements, “Only a small portion of the 7.8 miles is in Ovilla because they are currently building up to Westmoreland from Red Oak in Ovilla now. With the wider right of ways our local property owners are concerned about the impact to their properties.”

These improvements are set to include the expansion of the current two-lane rural roadway to a four- lane urban roadway with ultimately six lanes being added and a raised median.

The improvements would include 12-foot wide travel lanes and 14-foot outside shared-use-lanes. There would also be five-foot sidewalks in both directions separated by a raised median.

Other improvements being discussed are eliminating 90 degree turns along FM 664 between FM 1387 and Marshal Road.

The existing Right-of-Way width is 100-feet and would increase with the proposed project to the typical 150-foot Right-of-Way footprint.

The proposed project was anticipated to require approximately 80 acres of additional Right-of-Way to widen the roadway, based on the preliminary level of design.

It was also noted the environmental review, consultation and other actions required by applicable Federal Environmental Laws for this project are being sent, or have been carried out, by TxDot and a Memorandum of Understanding dated Dec. 16, 2014 and executed by the Federal Highway Commission and TxDot.

Donna Huerta Simmons, TxDOT Dallas District, Public Information Officer said, “The targeted schematic approval date is October 2019. Environmental clearance is anticipated for October 2020. Construction letting date has been scheduled for January 2024. The construction phase could take three years to complete. Please note these are subject to change.”

Simmons also said after the meeting, the schematics will be revised as necessary.

A summary of the public meeting will be finalized six to eight weeks after the comment period closes on March 20. A public hearing would then be held in summer of 2020 to present the revised plans and receive public input.

Maps showing the proposed projects location and the preliminary geometric design will be available for viewing at the public meeting.

Written comments are due to be postmarked by March 20, 2019 and can be sent to TxDot Dallas District Office, Attention Nelson Underwood P.E., 4777 E Highway 80, Mesquite, Texas 75150-6643 or an email sent to Nelson.underwood@txdot.gov. with any further details.