Officials discuss traffic relief

TYLER – The Tyler Area Metropolitan Planning Organization met with community members on Thursday to discuss a new study that could help improve traffic flow. The organization’s Transportation Policy Committee met on Thursday and discussed adopting the results of the the East Grande Boulevard and Old Omen Road Route Study.

According to our news partner KETK, the study is a part of the concept phase of the committee’s planning process, which will involve more public meetings before they can hit the streets with a plan to address Tyler’s current and future transportation needs.

HDR Engineering conducted the study and looked at the following areas to improve transportation near Tyler: “Evaluating the three existing Toll 49 alternatives to influence local roadway network needs and determine how East Grande Boulevard and Old Omen Road should be extended to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion.”

“Creating better connectivity between neighborhoods, schools, commercial areas, and regional corridors.”
“Supporting emergency response access and long-term mobility in the area.”
“By evaluating multiple roadway alternatives together, the study looked for the combination of improvements that best serve the community, minimize impacts, and prepare the transportation network for future growth.”

“It’s always exciting to see the community come out. It’s good to see that passion coming forward with all of the community members because it does show that they care and that the plans that we are putting in do matter and it matters to the people,” Tyler Metropolitan Planning Organization manager Michael Howell said on Thursday. “It’s good to hear from the people who are going to be most impacted by these plans. So it is good to hear that feedback and it is good to hear that the concerns that they have are being remedied.”