By BOBBY HORN JR.
CROSBY Over a hundred people turned out for a forum this week hosted by the Texas Department of Transportation in order to get a glimpse of Crosbys future.
The purpose of the forum, said TxDOT representative Pat Henry, was to solicit community input for an upcoming state highway project.
The project involves widening FM 2100 from two lanes to four lanes. The wider state highway would extend from Diamondhead Blvd. at the southern entrance to Newport to FM 1960 at Huffman.
Preliminary plans calls for the new FM 2100 to be a divided highway with and outside shoulder, sidewalks from Diamondhead to North Diamondhead Blvds. and improved curves. The new road will feature a 45 MPH speed limit from Diamondhead north to Hare-Cook Road and 60 MPH limit from Hare Cook Road to FM 1960.
Our main goal is to improve mobility in the area, Henry said. Henry added that the project would not only improve congestion but in upgrading the current highway it would improve safety issues.
During the forum residents got their first look at a recommended alternative plan. This plan was developed following input from an Oct. 21, 2003 meeting.
Opinions of the project expressed at the meeting ranged from a welcoming of the new road to distrust over right of way issues as well as those landowners who would see trees that have lined the roadways for years cut down to make room for progress.
One proponent of the project who attended the meeting was State Rep. Joe Crabb.
We have got to have more mobility, he said. So that people can get to school, work and shopping. Crabb added that as the population in Crosby continues to grow the need for a wider FM 2100 would only become greater.
Henry said that once TxDOT collects citizen input they would begin creating an environmental impact study (EIS). The state expects to return to Crosby next year to get input for the EIS. Construction is expected to begin on the project in 2011 with completion estimated in 2013 or 2014.
Those who would like to comment on the road but were unable to attend the meeting are urged to send their comments to Director of Project Development; Texas Department of Transportation; P.O. Box 1386; Houston, Tx,. 77251-1386.
