Garland, Texas – March 19, 2009 -- The Regional Transportation Council, the region’s metropolitan transportation planning organization, has approved a slate of projects that programs the region’s share of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Stimulus Program) funds. Projects were selected to create jobs now and provide mobility improvements that help to stimulate more job growth in the future. Garland Mayor Ronald E. Jones, a member of the Regional Transportation Council, said, "This new funding places the right emphasis on completing these critical projects. The results will benefit Garland, our neighboring communities, the region and the nation.”
Two projects selected in Garland will create jobs now and serve to provide mobility and access to areas where more jobs can be created in the future. The projects are:
1. Frontage Roads and Ramp Improvements along the north side of LBJ Freeway (IH-635) from Centerville Road to Northwest Highway. The city and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) have been working to plan and design this $10 million project for some time and this funding underscores its job creation, mobility and economic development importance to the region and Garland. The project will enhance access and circulation to the City’s Centerville Marketplace commercial area, currently the home to a Wal-Mart Supercenter, Target Superstore and many other retail establishments. The area has capacity to grow by 70% and create 440 more jobs.
2. Expansion of SH 78 from 4 to 6 lanes from just north of the Firewheel Town Center to the Dallas/Collin County lines. This roadway has become congested in the peak hours due to the commercial and residential growth in far northeast Dallas County and southeast Collin County. The expanded roadway will improve access to the President George Bush Turnpike, which is currently being extended to IH-30, and to the Firewheel Town Center commercial areas. The Town Center will accommodate more than 500,000 square feet of additional development, which in turn could provide some 1300 jobs.
Both projects will create construction and support jobs now, improve mobility and create economic development opportunities.