FRISCO, Texas — Read this story and more North Texas business news from our partners at the Dallas Business Journal
Construction has started on upgrades to a major thoroughfare in downtown Frisco in an effort to make the area more pedestrian friendly.
The City of Frisco on July 8 started work on Main Street as a part of its larger master plan to include more public space and transform downtown into a network of walkable streets. The $68 million downtown master plan, first adopted by the city council in 2018, is expected to be complete by mid-2026.
The city hopes to complete the project before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is expected to bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to the region and is shaping up as a de facto deadline for many new projects in North Texas.
Encompassing a mix of eclectic stores, boutiques and restaurants, Frisco’s historic downtown, known as the Rail District, blends old and new. It has a Summer Moon Coffee, a musical instrument store and the Nack Theater. The district is anchored by a vintage water tower that is a landmark for many in Frisco.
Downtown Frisco is also near Frisco Square, which includes Toyota Stadium, the home of FC Dallas. The sports venue, which attracts tens of thousands of fans for its games, is also in line for a major facelift.
"We know every world class city has a great downtown," Mayor Jeff Cheney said in a statement. "Our goals include creating gathering places, improving walkability and providing a venue for live music and other performances."
Main Street reconstruction represents one of the larger components of the downtown revamp. The road work is expected to cost $20 million and will be funded in part by a bond package that Frisco voters approved in 2023.
"The project is really to make Main Street a more walkable environment," said Jason Brodigan, director of Frisco engineering services. "So we’re taking the on-street parking out, and we’re using that space to create large walkable sidewalks."
Brodigan's team also plans to install planter beds and benches, as well as space for restaurants to have some chairs outside to make for a more welcoming environment.
"We wanted to be a place where people can come down and walk around and hang out a little bit, and this project is a key step in that transformation," Brodigan said.
Businesses along the street intend to remain open throughout construction with limited disturbances in roadway traffic. At least one lane will be open in each direction for the entirety of construction, Brodigan said.
The city recently wrapped up construction on Elm Street, which was a $5.5 million project that involved adding on-street parking, new streetlights and improvements to the water and wastewater system. It took about six months to complete renovations.
Next up for remodeling is Fourth Street, which Frisco intends to turn into an outdoor plaza and community gathering space. This section of the plan also costs around $20 million, and work is expected to begin sometime in early September 2024.
Construction for the Fourth Street plaza will involve converting an old street and building area into a park. This park aims to be the "heart of the new downtown" and entice people to check out businesses.
The final phase of the redevelopment project involves building a new parking garage on the west side of Fourth Street, with construction expected to begin sometime this fall. The garage is currently in the design phase.
The redevelopment of Frisco’s rail district comes as several North Texas cities look at upgrading their downtown areas to make them more attractive and walkable. For example, the growing town of Prosper has plans to develop a $300 million arts district, which is expected to include three hotels, a shopping village and multifamily units.