Proposed multi-lane road expansion to address city of Taylor's rapid growth
TAYLOR, TEXAS (KXAN) — The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) are looking to expand FM 973 from Samsung Highway to US 79 to reduce traffic congestion in City of Taylor.
This section of road spans about two and half miles and is currently 2-3 lanes wide. The expansion would make the road six-lane boulevard section.
According to TxDOT and CAMPO, FM 973 averaged 16,400 vehicles per day in 2023, and is projected to have 58,100 vehicles per day in 2050.
“This is important for safety improvement,” said Tyler Bybee, Taylor’s Managing Director of Community Services. “Traffic flow is [currently] an issue, especially in the times you would consider peak times in morning and evening.”
As of mid-August, along and near this section of FM 973, there is Taylor High School, two neighborhoods that are under developments and the Samsung Semiconductor plant still under construction.
Jermey Zoltan is a resident who lives in Castlewood North, a neighborhood right by FM 973. Zolton and his family moved to the neighborhood earlier this year.
“It would be definitely beneficial,” Zoltan said. “I noticed during school time and rush hour — or when people get off work — it gets real tight, and sometimes it’s even hard for us to turn out because we have to watch both traffic come in both directions.”
Data provided from the City of Taylor to KXAN shows that on FM 973 — between the crossroads of US 79 and Wesley Miller Lane — there have been: 3 major accidents, 188 minor accidents, 72 accident hit & runs in the last two years.
“I have little better driving experience than others — I’ve been driving almost 30 years,” Zoltan said. “Even for me, it’s, it’s a little hard and dangerous.”
CAMPO and TxDOT are hosting an in-person meeting at the Dickey-Givens Community Center this Thursday from 4-7 p.m. for community members to learn more about this expansion.
There will also be a virtual pre-recorded presentation that will be posted on CAMPO’s website at 4 p.m. on Thursday as well. The virtual presentation would provide details about the project and will remain on the website for the 15 days that follow.
