Haslet council orders completion of Haslet Parkway designs, directs coordination with TxDOT
Loading...
Summary
After heated debate about past project management, the Haslet City Council unanimously directed the city engineer to work with Kimley‑Horn to finish design plans connecting Haslet Parkway to FM 156 and to coordinate remaining items with TxDOT, aiming to advance a long-delayed transportation link.
The Haslet City Council voted unanimously Nov. 10 to direct the city engineer to work with Kimley‑Horn to complete design plans connecting Haslet Parkway to FM 156 and to coordinate any remaining items with the Texas Department of Transportation.
Councilmember Watkins, citing an open-records review of engineering drawings, urged the council to move past prior project delays and get a completed plan packet into TxDOT’s pipeline. Watkins said the proposal would relieve traffic pressure along FM 156 and provide an additional connection to I‑35 for parts of Haslet.
“Imagine how much relief the citizens would get if we had another thoroughfare that would get you to I‑35,” Watkins said in his presentation. He urged the council to authorize Kimley‑Horn to finalize plans and noted he had shared documents he obtained through public records.
Mayor Gary Halsey and staff disputed portions of Watkins’ chronology about prior funding and TxDOT’s role, but both sides agreed the city should resume active coordination. City staff said previous project management had been complex: agreements among Haslet, the North Central Texas Council of Governments and TxDOT set construction limits and responsibilities, and TxDOT had been the implementing agency in earlier phases. Staff acknowledged prior schedule and right‑of‑way utility issues and said the new motion would formally direct the engineer to complete the design work and coordinate outstanding items.
After extended public comment — including two residents who welcomed improved connectivity but raised concerns about train crossings — councilmember Watkins moved and the council unanimously approved the direction to the engineer.
Staff said they will return with the completed design package and next steps, including required site plans, coordination with railroads as necessary and verification of federal/state funding status.
Provenance: Topic introduced at SEG 3454; vote recorded at SEG 4524.
