Public input needed to improve State Line Avenue

TEXARKANA — The Metropolitan Planning Organization will hold its first of three public meetings at 6 p.m. Tuesday to discuss possible improvements to the corridor on State Line Avenue between E. 49th Street and 7th Street.

MTG Engineers and Surveyors is working with MPO on a study for the corridor and what can be done to improve it, as the Departments of Transportation for Texas and

Arkansas have slated funding for the reconstruction of State Line — meaning this study could impact what is reconstructed.

“Working with MPO, we’re evaluating the need for and the feasibility of improvements to enhance the safety and efficiency of State Line,” MTG Project Manager Vance Liles said. “It’s kind of a gateway to downtown, and it’s very historical as far as it being in two different states. There’s a lot that goes into this one road.”

Liles said the corridor has become a safety issue, and it’s important to get the public’s thought on what should be done to fix that.

“There’s been a lot of discussion in regards to safety, as there’s been a few pedestrian fatalities on State Line over the past couple years,” he said. “But the goal of this first meeting is to get the public’s input as far as what they would like to see along this corridor. We want to get as much participation from the public as we can.”

Liles said he hopes they can use that information moving forward to try to devise a plan and propose a session as to what could fit or be developed along the corridor.

While the first meeting is viewed as a planning session, MTG and MPO will look to further devise a more specific plan in following meetings in July and August.