Transportation bond

It’s no secret to anyone driving on either surface streets or Interstate 20 that Parker County is experiencing exponential growth. 

In fact, the county has the designation of being the sixth fastest growing in the U.S.

Trying to keep pace, county commissioners called for a $130 million transportation bond to be placed on the November ballot. The bond, which voters passed by a 59 percent to 41 percent margin, includes a total of 35 projects that focus on enhancing I-20, FM 730, FM 1187 and several intersections. 

That’s welcome news to Sterling Naron, Hudson Oaks City Administrator.

“The passage of the bond signals that the taxpayers are prepared to invest in transportation projects and work with state and federal partners to address issues facing our community,” he said. “Most residents are excited about it and ready for the various projects to come to fruition.”

Naron credited both County Commissioners Jacob Holt and Mike Hale for keeping Hudson Oaks involved in the process early. 

“[They listened] to the community’s needs and concerns…through various meetings with myself and Mayor Tom Fitzpatrick,” he explained, adding that there were also town hall and public meetings. 

Of the various projects, Naron said that the improvement of the east and west corridors, such as frontage roads that fully connect and the connection of Bankhead Highway, will be “vital” to complete prior to the expansion of I-20. 

“This will provide [relief] while I-20 is under construction with various lane closures and allow local residents to navigate the county without needing to get onto [the highway].”

One of the projects Naron is looking forward to is the expansion of Oakridge Drive, a multi-jurisdictional road with Hudson Oaks, Parker County and Weatherford all responsible for various portions of the road. 

“This reconstruction and expansion will fix a deteriorating road surface and create a safe route for the many families, teachers and buses that travel that road to and from Mary Martin Elementary on a daily basis.”

Naron added that the projects being addressed by the bond are “long overdue” and that it will enhance the community by creating improvements and safety enhancements.

“The exciting part will be the county’s ability to leverage these approved dollars for increased state and federal funding to stretch these dollars even further.”

Ultimately, Naron said increased traffic impacts everyone in the county, not just Hudson Oaks residents, and that while the bond passage is a positive first step, the solutions won’t happen overnight.

“The community will need to be patient with the county as projects of this size and scope take time to plan, engineer, design and construct,” he said. “Locally, we are excited.”