By Shelley Kofler, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-624878.mp3
Dallas, TX – In three weeks six new toll lanes will connect the Frisco -McKinney area to downtown Dallas.
Right now the Dallas North Tollway covers 22 miles, from Wycliff near downtown Dallas to State Highway 121 near Frisco. On September 28, another 9.6 miles of pavement will open, extending the tollway further North to US 380.
Sam Lopez of the North Texas Tollway Authority says a new toll plaza will be located at the 380 entrance.
"We will have entrance ramps and exit ramps all along the 9.6 miles but there will only be one main plaza. The cost to toll tag customers will be $1.05. And for cash customers it will be $1.30," said Lopez.
Add that to current tolls and a trip downtown along the entire tollway will cost $2.85 one way with a toll tag.
Lopez says investors are clearly banking on the route being popular.
The economic development you can see along the roadway that isn't even open yet is already there. Businesses are popping up as well as restaurants and there will be more development.
Long-term plans call for extending the tollway even further, to the Grayson County Line near Celina.
Shelley Kofler KERA News