U.S. 75 getting special lanes for low emission vehicles
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
The Texas Department of Transportation is adding new "technology lanes" that will allow certain vehicles to bypass traffic on U.S. 75 between Dallas and Collin counties.
Why it matters: North Texas roads have become more congested over the years amid record population growth.
- U.S. 75 is among Texas' most congested highways, but more construction means more bottlenecks in the interim.
State of play: TxDOT says the three-year project, estimated to cost $57 million, is intended to alleviate congestion during peak travel times.
- U.S. 75's HOV lanes from I-635 to the Sam Rayburn Tollway will be converted to "peak-hour technology lanes."
- High-occupancy vehicles, low-emission vehicles and motorcycles will be allowed to use the lanes during peak hours.
The latest: The northbound U.S. 75 HOV lane from George Bush Turnpike in Dallas County to S.H. 121 in Collin County will be closed starting Friday morning — "weather permitting" — through fall 2025, per TxDOT.
- The closure will cut through Plano, Allen and Fairview.
How it works: Crews started preliminary work on the HOV lanes this year. The remaining work includes installing new signs and adding lighting.
- TxDOT isn't planning any long-term closures to the southbound HOV lanes, an agency spokesperson tells Axios. The work will likely be done during some nighttime closures.
- The project is scheduled to be completed by 2026. Drivers can check the DriveTexas website for updates.
Between the lines: U.S. 75 isn't a toll road, but its technology lanes will connect two major North Texas tollways.
- The region already has more toll facilities than any other region in the state, per a Dallas Morning News investigation.
Zoom out: Texas has the most toll operators in the U.S., per the DMN.
- The toll roads have engulfed some communities and made it difficult for residents, especially drivers in middle- to low-income neighborhoods, to travel without them, the DMN reports.
The bottom line: By the time U.S. 75's technology roads are up and running, more road projects will likely be underway in North Texas. It never ends.