The Fort Worth District is currently conducting a feasibility study for the proposed realignment of Farm-to-Market Road 157 from Business 287 to Farm-to-Market Road 1807. The proposed improvements to FM 157 are needed to safely accommodate existing and projected traffic in this area of Johnson County between the cities of Mansfield and Venus.

This 10-mile rural roadway consists of two travel lanes and no shoulders. The existing roadway width is 24 feet and the existing right of way width is 80 feet. This alignment has several sub-standard curves that were adequate for farm-to-market traffic, but are not suitable for today’s traffic demands. Intersecting county roads, driveways and subdivision entrances contribute to traffic delays and safety concerns.

The feasibility study is due to be complete by summer 2008, but the FM 157 project is not funded at this time. It is still in environmental review and preliminary design. An informational public meeting was conducted on December 12, 2006 to provide the public the opportunity to review and provide comments on the different alternatives. Based on the public feedback and analysis of traffic patterns, refined alternatives were developed. These alternatives were presented on December 11, 2007 at a second public meeting.

After the environmental document and geometric schematic are further refined, they will be reviewed by TxDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Once approval for further processing is received from the FHWA, a public hearing will be scheduled.

The primary goal for this study is to determine potential design alternatives to improve the alignment, enhance safety and identify potential long-term benefits to mobility. Improvements to be evaluated include, but are not limited, to the following:

• Improve alignment to safely meet a higher design speed
• Identify and evaluate viable alternatives to improve mobility of local and thru-traffic
• Relieve restrictions and/or traffic congestion on existing thoroughfares and improve circulation
• Identify and evaluate viable alternatives to meet the needs and future demands of the Venus/Mansfield communities in the Johnson County area
• Identify and preserve area(s) for the future corridor and to provide supporting documentation for the update of the existing thoroughfare plan
• Incorporate a comprehensive public involvement program in the project study process to ensure the issues and views of the community are identified and addressed

• The study will include research and consideration of the following areas of concern:
  
  

• Input from citizens and motorists in the study area
• Population and ethnicity of project study area
• Economic profile of project study area
• Projected population growth
• Major employers and traffic generators
• Threatened and/or endangered species in Johnson County
• Hazardous materials sites in the project study area
• Hazardous material sites adjacent to the project study area
• Floodplains
• Waters of the United States
• Farmland and other land uses
• Historical and archaeological sites

More Information

• Study Map
• Meeting Notice