Ask The Mayor

Q. - The new one way streets off Hwy 80 in the business district caught me by surprise the first time I was over there Friday 8/27. What caught me more by surprise was that I was issued a citation. Why are warnings not being given in these first few weeks. They are going to make a killing off this, is this the plan to make money for the police dept?

Answer - Thanks for your inquiry.

 

The one way street that you refer to is Metro Drive. It provides access into the Metrocrest Industrial Park from US 80. This street has been barricaded and signed as one way entry across the tracks in response to a rash of train – truck collisions. The Texas Department of Transportation has agreed to establish a four way traffic light-controlled intersection before the end of this year. Once those signals are up Metro Drive will become a full two way street again.

Getting a traffic ticket is never pleasant and always expensive. I travel that street daily and have seen people maneuvering around the barriers and ignoring the signs so they can drive against the one way traffic coming into the industrial park. Going against the one way traffic endangers drivers going the right way. No driver can cross over and drive the wrong way to exit the industrial park without willfully ignoring the obvious signs and barriers.

It is unfortunate that you received a ticket for going the wrong way but it is impossible for me to understand how anyone could do that without intentionally ignoring the signs and barriers.

 

Sincerely,

 

Hal Richards, Mayor