Regain Access to Surrey Ridge Village

The City of Robinson and the Texas Department of Transportation,

Effective Apr. 8, 2009, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDot) permanently switched the IH 35 frontage road to one-way northbound from FM 1695/FM 3148 (Hewitt Dr/Moonlight Dr) to FM 2063 (Sun Valley Blvd). Traffic desiring to turn onto Surrey Ridge Lane from IH 35 is now required to access it from the south (Exit at FM 1695/3148 (Hewitt Dr/Moonlight Dr) and travel north on the east frontage road to Surrey Ridge Lane). The more than four mile permanent detour for residents of Surrey Ridge Village comes as an unwelcome surprise.

The residents of Surrey Ridge Village did not receive any notification of the configuration change until Apr. 1, 2009, when the general public was notified via electric construction signs. More than 1,100 residents live in the sub-division, with more development plans in progress.

The permanent detour will be more than an inconvenience to the residents of Surrey Ridge Village; it will be time-consuming and expensive. It will take each resident an average of 73 additional hours, annually, to make their afternoon commute home from Waco work and schools. These additional hours convert to more than 1,600 extra miles driven and more than $375 in gas money.

Additionally, the permanent configuration change could potentially mean the difference between life and death. When the east frontage road was two-way, it took an ambulance coming from the new Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center approximately six minutes to reach a home in the sub-division. With the new configuration, it will take an ambulance nearly 20 minutes.

There are no plans in progress for Sun Valley Blvd to be extended approximately 150 yards in order to access Surrey Ridge Lane, and there are no plans in progress for a bridge to be built that connects the west frontage road of IH 35 to Surrey Ridge Lane. Phone calls and e-mails to representatives from the City of Robinson and TxDot have not been returned.

We, the undersigned, are petitioning you to hear us out and resolve the issue at hand by adopting one of our three reasonable, cost-efficient solutions:
*  The City of Robinson and/or TxDot can extend Sun Valley Road approximately 150 yards to reach Paso Fino Street in the Surrey Ridge Village, which would give residents, families, friends, and emergency vehicles access to the sub-division.
*  The City of Robinson and/or TxDot can allow the IH 35 east frontage road to be two way for one-fifth of a mile between Sun Valley Road and Surrey Ridge Road, allowing residents, families, friends, and emergency vehicles access to the sub-division.
*  The City of Robinson and/or TxDot can build a bridge over IH 35 that connects the IH 35 west frontage road to Surrey Ridge Road.