Plano Expedites Traffic Review After Toyota Announces Relocation
PLANO (CBS 11 NEWS) - More than 17,000 people already work in Plano's Legacy Business Park. When Toyota and Fed Ex Office move their corporate headquarters to the location, another 5,000 workers will join them.
Now, according to Plano Transportation Engineering Manager Lloyd Neal, the city is expediting its review of traffic in the area. Neal says they're looking at plans for lane configuration, re-timing traffic lights, and sidewalks.
City officials are also speaking with companies about staggering the release of their employees at the end of the day, to reduce congestion.
Frisco resident Yolanda Duran says she always goes to the Shops at Legacy in Plano. "We love this area of town." Duran says she's pleased planners have sped up their review. "Anytime you bring new businesses to the area, you have to discuss this and plan that along with it, because if you don't, people get discouraged about the traffic."
More building and development is on the way. The man who developed the popular and successful Shops at Legacy says he plans to keep growing. Karahan Companies President and CEO Fehmi Karahan said, "I'm thrilled with excitement."
At the vast undeveloped northwest corner of the Highway 121/Sam Rayburn Tollway and the Dallas North Tollway, Karahan plans to develop offices, apartments with retail stores on the ground floor, and condos.
"We think that we will see two or three with mid to high rise condo towers. That being said, it will be anywhere from eight floors to 20 stories high. We think that the office towers can be eight to 20 stories high." Karahan also plans on building two hotels, including The Renaissance Hotel that is set to open by 2017.
He hopes the second hotel will be a five star brand.
To keep traffic moving in the area, Neal says Plano will negotiate with DART to start a shuttle service from its Northwest Transfer Station to businesses in the Legacy Business Park and at the Shops at Legacy.
The new development comes as the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) plans on widening the Dallas North Tollway from North Dallas to 121.
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