Are there any plans to upgrade U.S. 80 from Downtown to Terrell anytime soon? (Dallas: 2014, apartment)

[Newbe10]

I have driven on U.S. 80 from downtown Dallas to I-20 in Terrell on many occasions and based on the traffic that I have seen, the current four-lane structure of the freeway doesn't seem to quite be fit for the amount of traffic.

With the cities of Terrell, Forney, Sunnyvale, and Mesquite continuing to grow at a decent pace, I think that at least one lane in each direction should be added. Does anyone know of any future plans to widen this route??

[Dallaz]

US 80 doesn't go to Downtown Dallas.

[Newbe10]

Originally Posted by Dallaz

US 80 doesn't go to Downtown Dallas.

Well, It may not go into the heart of downtown, but the terminus is very close to downtown. I know since I have taken that route many time to and from Dallas.

[TXTwizter]

Probably not in the near future. TXDOT will wait until the area between the I-30/US 80 split and Terrell gains 500K-1 Million people, so many as to where the freeway is clogged 23 hours a day.......then start a nightmare of a "reconstruction" project taking 5-15 years to finish, only to be "out of date" upon completion. Prime example.....Central Expressway, LBJ Freeway (between Central & I-35) & the downtown Dallas mixmaster!

[rantanamo]

I-30 already is in the process of planning its expansion from downtown to the US 80 split. The renderings are out there, and it will be a huge freeway.

[DaveG99]

80 isnt that bad. They need to raise the speed limit above 60 though! Where it gets bad is on 30 closer to downtown. On the rare occasion I leave work after 4pm I just take 175 to 20 to get back home to Forney from downtown. It adds about 5 miles but there is hardly any traffic. Forney is growing like crazy and eventually they need to do something abotu the roads leading to it.

I moved to Forney about 2 months ago. My commute is only 20-25 minutes from Forney to Downtown Dallas. When I lived in West Plano I was on the tollway every day with similar commute times but I was paying $150-$200 a month on my tolltag. Now its free!

[ChristieP]

Totally agree about the tolls. People here seem to think it's not a big deal, but it really does add up!

[DaveG99]

Originally Posted by ChristieP

Totally agree about the tolls. People here seem to think it's not a big deal, but it really does add up!

Not only did I win with the tolls but my mortgage is less for my brand new house than I was paying for my old apartment. Win Win!

You know once they build that new outdoor mall place in Forney they are going to have to make the roads bigger to handle the increased traffic. Hunt is building this shopping area and the population of Forney is supposed to double in size from 20k to 40k.

Forney population to double with Herbert Hunt investment | wfaa.com Dallas - Fort Worth

[Lakewooder]

Originally Posted by rantanamo

I-30 already is in the process of planning its expansion from downtown to the US 80 split. The renderings are out there, and it will be a huge freeway.

Rantanamo, wasn't that called "The Lone Star Project"? IIRC, it was to start from downtown going east with Art Deco elements near Fair Park... I wonder what the recent success of Klyde Warren and talk of tearing down I-345 may have on this...

[Newbe10]

Originally Posted by DaveG99

80 isnt that bad. They need to raise the speed limit above 60 though! Where it gets bad is on 30 closer to downtown. On the rare occasion I leave work after 4pm I just take 175 to 20 to get back home to Forney from downtown. It adds about 5 miles but there is hardly any traffic. Forney is growing like crazy and eventually they need to do something abotu the roads leading to it.

I moved to Forney about 2 months ago. My commute is only 20-25 minutes from Forney to Downtown Dallas. When I lived in West Plano I was on the tollway every day with similar commute times but I was paying $150-$200 a month on my tolltag. Now its free!

I understand how you feel about the Toll Roads. During the 5 months that I used DNT and George Bush to commute from North Dallas to the Spring Creek Campus of Collin College, I spent on average an extra $50 per month and got to where I just couldn't afford it anymore. I dislike the toll roads as well, and have faith that the next governor of this great state will institute toll road reforms and require that they go free once the debt for the road is paid for.

However, with Governor Perry and his buddies at TXDOT in office for at least a few more years, I fear that North Texas and other parts of the state will be slapped with new toll routes. 2014 can't get here quick enough!!