On Jan. 13, the Texas Department of Transportation published their draft of the Environmental Impact Statement for the US 380 project in Collin County.

Currently the draft version of the EIS is available to review online on the TxDOT website. There is also a physical copy of the EIS available at the TxDOT Dallas District office.

The target area of the project is from Coit Road in Prosper to Farm to Market Road 1827 in eastern McKinney.

According to TxDOT, the population growth in Collin County prompted the need for the construction project. As a result, increased traffic volumes led to higher rates of accidents, traffic congestion and lowered the mobility of the road.

What is the Environmental Impact Statement of US 380?

An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) monitors the impact on ecosystem health when TxDOT conducts road construction.

The EIS provided by TxDOT includes the population growth of the major cities and towns that US 380 runs through in Collin County.

The EIS also provided the congestion status of US 380 in Collin County.

“Indicated congestion along US 380 between Coit Road and Farm to Market 1827 during peak travel times is rated in engineering terms as having an “F” Level of Service (LOS),” according to the EIS provided by TxDOT.

The EIS also includes the placement of commercial buildings, community facilities and the relocation of utility centers.

Displaced businesses with segment A include SCP Distributors, Firestone, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and Valvoline Instant Oil Change. Displaced businesses in segment C include Pearls Wedding Venue, White Horse Ranch LLC, Carroll’s Automotive and Progressive Water Treatment.

Updates on the US 380 Project

TxDOT has chosen the preferred alternative for US 380. This means that segment A will run from Coit Road to County Road 161 and connects with segment E until State Highway 5, where C would then reach the other side of US 380 in New Hope.

The planned project of US 380 will include an eight lane freeway that will ease the flow of traffic moving from west to east.

“There’s going to be on and off ramps and it’s really going to help traffic move east and west in this area,” TxDOT spokesperson Madison Schein said.

According to the interactive map provided by TxDOT, affected neighborhoods include Heatherwood, Robinson Ridge, Tucker Hill, Erwin Farms, Bloomridge and nearby Stonebridge Ranch.

In 2022, TxDOT was at the stage of deciding the preferred alternative road for US 380 and began the draft of the EIS.

Prior to the meetings in March 2022, TxDOT completed a feasibility study in 2020 for the preparation of the alignments of US 380.

“So in 2020, we published a feasibility study, which showed the big picture of what this new alignment would be because of all the growth,” Schein said.

Currently TxDOT is at the stage of having public input of the current draft of the EIS. This stage of the hearings is the final time for public input.

“That one is nearing the end of our public involvement stage right now, and we’ll be making a decision on the alignments by the end of the year,” Schein said.

There are 22 residential homes and 35 businesses that will be displaced from the planned alternative.

If TxDOT builds on the current US 380, it would displace 200 businesses and residences.

After finalizing the project for the new alternative, there are steps that TxDOT will take before construction.

“There’s a lot of different things that have to happen before we start construction,” Schein said, “we have to get the land. We have to work with the current property owners.”

Funding will be another step that TxDOT will have to take before starting construction.

“Once it’s funded, ideally [in] 2027, that’s when we can move forward with construction,” Schein said.

The deadline for Public Involvement in the process of the US 380 bypass is on March 21.

“If you want your feedback considered, you need to get it in. Now, that’s going to be closed by March 20,” Schein said.

Presentation of Public Hearing