Key milestones, possible funding opportunities identified to advance regional transportation priority

This is a joint press release from TxDOT and City of Granbury.

TxDOT is working with Hood County, the City of Granbury and local leaders to continue developing the US 377 project – a crucial corridor for residents of Hood County. Together, these partners are working with the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) to continue the pursuit of funding and future consideration as part of TxDOT’s Unified Transportation Program (UTP).

The UTP is one of many tools available to advance projects. It is a 10-year plan that is updated annually, which provides an additional opportunity to submit the project for consideration as part of the next funding cycle associated with this planning process.

Granbury Mayor Nin Hulett and Hood County Judge Ron Massingill, alongside city and county leaders and TxDOT’s Fort Worth District, are pursuing multiple opportunities to advance this project. This collective effort to promote Hood County transportation projects is part of an ongoing partnership.

“As we continue to see tremendous growth in Granbury and Hood County, the local leadership understands just how important transportation improvements are for the sustained success of the area. We will continue to work with our regional and state transportation partners to push forward the projects that will support high quality of life in our community,” said Mayor Hulett, “I will continue to receive your comments and will make sure they are heard at the highest level of TxDOT.”

Early joint efforts led to local consensus on the two highest priority projects: the widening of US 377 in Granbury and the US 377 Relief Route in Cresson. To advance these projects, TxDOT, Hood County and the City of Granbury worked together on a funding strategy, which included Hood County voters approving county transportation bonds to help provide local funds. However, limited funding prevented both projects from advancing simultaneously. Due to these funding constraints and at the request of local leaders at the time, TxDOT first focused on the US 377 Cresson Relief Route, which recently began construction.

The shared priority now for Hood County is US 377 in Granbury, and TxDOT and the city and county look forward to continuing their work together to advance this important project. Next steps in the process include TxDOT moving forward with the development of the schematic documents necessary to obtain environmental clearance of the project. The first key milestone in this process would be the development of schematics to 30% complete status by early 2020. Part of this work will involve identifying segments that may be able to be accelerated as funding becomes available. Segments for consideration within these efforts include the work to advance the US 377 and SH 144 intersection and the US 377 at Business 377 intersection.

TxDOT, local leaders and regional partners continue working together to explore all opportunities to move this important project forward.