Crownover urges patience in road construction process
By LAURA CHILDRESS

While patience may be a virtue, State Rep. Myra Crownover admittted that it's one that's tough to practice while waiting for road improvements.

However, Crownover, who represents Dist. 64, including Little Elm and the surrounding area, noted that it's the best tactic during a visit to the Little Elm Lions Club Tuesday evening.

"'Be patient' is not what you want to hear, but it's what it's going to take," she said. "Everyone understands you want the roads built 10 years ago, but that's not the way things happen in this world.” Current plans call for the completion of the toll bridge across Lewisville Lake in 2009, while the widening of the portion of Eldorado Parkway running through Little Elm may lag behind that date three to four years.

Crownover, who has served as a state representative since 2000, said that while building roads may seem a frustratingly slow, bureaucratic process, residents' woes aren't going unheard.

"Your transportation situation is not going to get fixed any time soon and is going to get worse before it gets better, but you're not being ignored," she said.

Crownover noted that Cynthia White, Denton County Commissioner, Precinct 1, is in frequent contact with state officials about the county's infrastructure needs.

"She's acutely aware of your needs," Crownover said.

While a well-organized, educated, persistent community can speed up the process somewhat, she said the simple truth is the process takes time.

"If I had a billion dollars in my purse it wouldn't really speed things up," she said, noting that there's the environmental design phase, right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation, all which must be completed before construction can begin.

Rather than focus all their energy on complaining about the roads, Crownover urged them to spend the time instead planning for the infrastructure around the roads, such as parks and other city services.