PILOT POINT The Dallas North Tollway is expanding far north.
Right now, there are three proposed routes, and the stakes are high. The chosen path will bring with it millions of dollars in tax revenue and economic development.
The Mayor of Celina, Jim Lewis, put it this way:
The decision on where the Tollway will go is about money who gets it and who pays it, said Mayor Jim Lewis of Celina.
Three hundred people converged on the community room of a Pilot Point bank Tuesday to take a look for themselves.
The Green Alignment veers west-northwest toward Pilot Point and meets up with U.S. Highway 377. Cindy Schindler says its the best route for rural Denton County.
They have no direct route to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex areas, no matter where they work, she said. They have a long, winding way to get there. This route would benefit them, save fuel and save time.
The Yellow/Red Alignment veers west and then heads due north up the Collin/Denton county line. Pilot Point leaders say this route would share the wealth and cost between both counties. They believe it can be built the fastest.
It s just a lot better route. It's a straighter route, said Pilot Point City Manager J.C. Hughes.
But Celina leaders want the Tollway to run through their town in Collin County on the Orange/Red Alignment. They claim it's the shortest route to Grayson County, which means less road to build and big savings.
And what that means is that's $40 to $45 million less in tolls that will have to be charged to make up the funding, said Celina City Manager Jason Gray.
The cities are competing for big benefits. The Tollway extension is expected to generate $50 million in tax revenue every year.
The NTTA board is scheduled to approve a route in July.
E-mail sstoler@wfaa.com
