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March 2009

Morriss Road/Gerault Road Expansion

Fact Sheet

The Town of Flower Mound has received numerous inquiries recently regarding the Morriss Road/Gerault Road expansion project. In order to ensure the accurate distribution of information regarding this project, the Town has drafted the following fact sheet.

• The Town of Flower Mound has been working with our regional partners to proactively plan solutions in response to transportation issues resulting from the rapid growth that occurred in the 1990s. The Town has made providing mobility for its residents a top priority and has worked diligently to implement needed improvements. The majority of motorists leaving Flower Mound in the morning and returning in the evening use a north-south path that includes either FM 2499 or Lakeside Parkway to SH 121. Ultimately, a majority of the traffic heading toward SH 121 will benefit from the recently funded DFW Connector project, which will make significant improvements to the SH 121/SH 114/IH-635 convergence that reaches from Flower Mound to Grapevine.

• In an effort to maximize the local travel options and attempt to meet current and projected traffic demands, the Town has planned its transportation system to provide multiple corridors for each commute direction. For residents traveling in a north-south orientation, the Town has planned three corridors including FM 2499 as a six-lane arterial, Morriss/Gerault as a six-lane arterial, and Garden Ridge as a four-lane arterial. Flower Mound Road and Kirkpatrick also support these movements locally, both as four-lane arterials. For motorists commuting in an east-west pattern, the Town has planned for three corridors, including FM 3040 as a six-lane arterial, FM 1171 as a six-lane arterial, and FM 407 as a four-lane arterial. Spinks Road will also support east-west traffic flow as a four-lane arterial. The Town and its mobility partners are scheduled to receive approximately $125 million in funding from outside sources to assist in constructing these projects. Even with these planned improvements to the Town’s thoroughfares, it is projected that by the year 2030, the southernmost segments of FM 2499, Gerault and Garden Ridge will carry volumes that exceed the roadway capacity.

• Morriss/Gerault Road has been planned as a six-lane divided roadway for more than 27 years. Due to the foresight of the Town during previous planning efforts, the additional two lanes of Morriss/Gerault can be constructed within the existing median. No additional right-of-way will be required, and the roadway will not encroach upon neighboring homes.

• As an integral north-south connection, the expansion of Morriss/Gerault was originally included in the Town’s 1981 Master Thoroughfare Plan, which is a component of the Comprehensive Master Plan. The Master Thoroughfare Plan was adopted again in 2000, 2004, and most recently in 2009, with no changes to the designation of Morriss and Gerault as Major Arterials.

• The Town of Flower Mound has a strong history of providing and preserving safe routes to schools. Though not required, the Town provides warning flashers at the beginning of school zones adjacent to school properties. The Town also dedicates significant manpower to ensure the safety of school zones, by providing crossing guards at designated school crossings and Police enforcement of reduced speed school zones. With the expansion of Morriss and Gerault to six lanes, the Town will evaluate additional improvements to ensure school zone safety. These improvements could include the installation of actuated flashers for mid-block school crossings, improvements to the below-grade trail crossing near Garden Road, and completion of missing sidewalk links.

• Resident feedback is always encouraged regarding projects that impact our community. As such, all of the Master Thoroughfare Plans involved opportunities for public input and comment.

• Additional opportunity for public input was provided during the annual budget adoption process. The Town’s budget includes the Capital Improvement Program, which forecasts all Town-implemented projects for the next five years and beyond. During the Summer 2008 budget process, the widening of Morriss and Gerault was approved, with design to occur during the 2008-09 fiscal year and construction to begin in the following fiscal year, or as soon as design is complete.

• The expansion of Morriss/Gerault was also included in the November 2008 Denton County roadway bond election, affording additional opportunity for public input. Denton County Commissioners Andy Eads and Bobbie Mitchell provided additional details to the public at the October 20, 2008, Town Council meeting outlining the roads contained within the bond program, including Morriss/Gerault. The Denton County roadway bond program was subsequently approved by Denton County voters on November 4, 2008.

• Plans to expand Morriss/Gerault are proceeding in conjunction with The Riverwalk at Central Park project.  The Transportation Impact Analysis (TIA) for The Riverwalk at Central Park project indicated that the level of service on Morriss/Gerault would be negatively impacted once this project was constructed.  As a condition of the approval of this monumental project, the developer was required to contribute toward the expansion of the roadway in order to meet the recommendations from the TIA.  This project, and the related TIA and Thoroughfare Plan, were also discussed at numerous Planning and Zoning, Town Council, and Transportation Commission meetings in 2008.

• Funding for this project is being provided from three sources. The first source is Denton County roadway bond funding, the second source is revenue from the SH 121 Tollway project, and the final source of funding is the developer of The Riverwalk at Central Park. No Town-initiated funding obligations have been utilized for this project.

• For additional information or questions, or to schedule a HOA presentation, please contact Bob Pegg, Sr. Project Engineer, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 972.874.6310.

Written by :

Josh Monson