The cities of Orange and Pinehurst have met with the Texas Department of Transportation to encourage TxDOT to improve the lighting on MacArthur Drive. During this week’s Coffee with the Mayor in the Pinehurst City Hall the subject came up again.
City of Orange Councilwoman Essie Bellfield spoke passionately about the need not just for better lighting, but also that traffic lights are necessary on MacArthur Drive especially following the tragic death of a mother and her child attempting to cross the street there last year. Bellfield expressed she was willing to go to Austin or even Washington to advocate for lights be added to MacArthur.
Johnnie Trahan with Entergy attended the meeting. He reminded Bellfield that City Managers Shawn Oubre and Robbie Hood from Orange and Pinehurst have met with TxDOT. Trahan informed her that he has spoken with the offices of State Senator Robert Nichols and State Representative Dade Phelan which have also been in contact with TxDOT about the situation.
Trahan said he thinks something is in the works. He recalled that seven or eight years ago the three cities of Orange, Pinehurst, and West Orange submitted a letter to Austin asking for improved lighting on MacArthur, but nothing came of it. Trahan believes the difference now is that the local area has a state senator and a state representative that have added their input, and he is more confident they are going to get something done.
Pinehurst’s Hood has indicated at previous city council meetings that TxDOT will submit a request this summer for funds to add sidewalks on both sides of MacArthur Drive in addition to improved lighting from Adams Bayou to Strickland Drive. A decision on that request should be made by late summer.
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