Construction on State Highway 5 between McMakin Street and Powerhouse, one of the downtown projects the city is tracking, is not expected to begin until the fall of 2028, according to a presentation prepared for the City Council's work session on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
The slides, from Planning Manager Cassie Bumgarner, list TxDOT's schedule for that stretch: ready to bid in March 2028, construction starting in fall 2028 and completion by the end of 2030. The city calls its plans for that area "The Crossing at Highway 5."
The presentation says the city is still working with TxDOT on enhancements inside the highway right of way and is separately looking at options for improvements outside it.
The item is a briefing only. A staff summary says it gives the council a status update on several downtown projects run by planning, engineering, public works and the McKinney Economic Development Corporation, with no cost attached.
More downtown streets in 2027
A second round of street reconstruction is planned on Church, Henry, Wood, College, Hunt, Davis and Valley streets. The slides list full pavement replacement, new water, sewer and storm drainage lines, ADA-compliant sidewalks, street lighting and landscaping, with work starting in spring or summer 2027 and finishing in spring or summer 2029.
Water tower, parking and a corridor plan
- Chestnut elevated storage tank: Lighting has been installed and staff is being trained to run it. A T-Mobile antenna is being relocated, and site work such as fencing and landscaping is expected to wrap up by the end of 2026.
- Parking technology: A downtown parking management project would track parking availability and add dynamic signs to steer drivers. Funding through TIRZ No. 1 was approved in June, and the slides show the work running from November into next summer.
- Parking study: Data was collected in July and August and a draft report was written in September and October. The draft is to be finalized in November and published on the city's website in December.
- SH 5 corridor plan: The city received 11 consultant proposals for a small area plan for the State Highway 5 corridor. Public outreach is scheduled to start in 2027, and the plan is meant to set a vision for public spaces and private development, remove barriers to investment and create a better gateway to downtown.
The staff summary also lists updates on demolishing the old City Hall and Development Services buildings, the Hunt Library and Courthouse Theater projects, and an MEDC downtown office and hotel initiative. The slides posted with the agenda give no details on those items.
The work session begins at 3 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 401 E. Virginia St., ahead of the 6 p.m. regular meeting.
Sources
mckinney.legistar.com
webapi.legistar.com
legistar1.granicus.com
