Year: 2024
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Hwy 75 Construction Project
Let’s start with the good news; there are currently no other planned lane closures for Highway 75 during the day, in or around Van Alstyne. There were a few days the currently active Highway 75 project in Collin County that a lane was closed and we were all highly impacted. But per that Collin County on site Engineer, those were the only planned lane closures for his project. This project has an expected timeline of 30 months for completion currently and began in April this year.
The purpose of the project is to add capacity, improve traffic operations by converting frontage roads from two-way to one-way operation, provide frontage road turn around opportunities, and ramp improvements along US 75. The proposed project is the 3.5 mile stretch north of E CR 370 and widens US 75 from two mainlanes to three mainlanes in each direction.
This project includes the replacement of the overpass at CR 371 with the addition of left turn lanes exiting the overpass and increased shoulder width.
Reconstruction or modification of existing ramps, where applicable, to support the lane widening and frontage road conversion. Frontage roads will be repaved and restriped for one way conversion.
The Grayson County project is set to go to bid in September this year and TXDot anticipates construction to begin early 2025 and at this time have a 2-3 year expected timeline. They will know more and update us after assigning the project.
The purpose of this project is to add capacity, improve traffic operations by converting frontage roads from two-way to one-way operation, provide frontage road turn around opportunities, and ramp improvements along US 75. The proposed project is 14 miles from Collin County Line to FM 1417 and widens US 75 from two main lanes to three main lanes in each direction.
Includes Replacement of the overpass at County Line Road / Panther Parkway
1 over pass at FM 121/Van Alstyne Pkwy – the existing bridge will not be replaced with the initial project. TXDot is rebuilding the intersection with concrete pavement with this project.
1 new overpass about a mile north of Van Alstyne Pkwy by Simmons Loop
Reconstruction or modification of existing ramps, where applicable, to support the lane widening and frontage road conversion. Frontage roads will be repaved and restriped for one way conversion.
They have no plans to have lane closures during the day on the highway, and are able to keep the lane closures at night time. However, the access roads are likely to remain 1 lane during the length of the project.
We are staying in touch with TXDot during this project and will post on our Facebook page for any announcements directly from TXDot.
Crystal DeBacker
Media Coordinator
City of Van Alstyne
cdebacker@cityofvanalstyne.us
903-357-1088
Honeylu’s
Honeylu’s coffee shop opened it’s doors in Van Alstyne in July of 2022 at 990 W. Van Alstyne Pkwy., with what is now Casey’s. This was their second Honeylu’s location when they opened and is now the one and only.
Honeylu’s offers a wide range of craft coffee drinks that cater to all tastes. Whether you prefer a classic espresso, a frothy cappuccino, or a trendy cold brew, you’ll find something to satisfy your caffeine cravings. Honeylu’s also prides themselves on serving the highest quality, single origin coffees, teas, pastries and light bites, all of which are made in house, including the syrups. Their menu also features breakfast burritos, delicious sandwiches and more, making it a perfect spot for breakfast or a light lunch.
One of the standout features of Honeylu’s is its commitment to supporting the local community. Every cup of coffee you purchase helps sustain local businesses and contributes to the local economy. This community-focused approach not only ensures high-quality products but also fosters a sense of belonging among customers. Eric & Jen Flattery, owners of Honeylu’s, also give a portion of the proceeds to local animal shelters and you can tell from the moment you walk in to their coffee shop that they have a clear love for pups.
Swing by today and get your favorite drink and don’t forget a Puppuccino for your fur baby!
Crystal DeBacker
Media Coordinator
City of Van Alstyne
cdebacker@cityofvanalstyne.us
903-357-1088
Water Disinfection: Chlorine to Chloramine
We manage an extensive water system, processing up to 800,000 gallons of water daily for our residents, a figure that can soar to two million gallons on peak summer days. To enhance the durability of our water infrastructure and ensure safety, we are transitioning our disinfection method from chlorine to chloramines.
“This switch to chloramines will help us maintain the integrity of the water longer, especially as it remains in the system due to increased usage during hotter periods,” explains Bob Johnson, our Director of Public Works.
Chloramines are renowned for their longevity within water systems, making them ideal as our city expands. “This is crucial for maintaining water safety as it helps prevent bacterial growth, ensuring our pipelines remain uncontaminated,” Johnson adds. Although some residents might notice slight changes, such as a different odor or water coloration, these effects are minimal and normal during such transitions. We are committed to flushing our systems effectively to resolve these temporary changes and reassure our community of the water’s safety.
The conversion process is set to commence on June 3rd and will span several weeks. We will begin with water sourced from our wells, supplemented by treated lake water from the North Texas Municipal Water District. This water travels through underground pipelines directly to homes, continuing to meet the high standards our residents expect.
Our goal is to address any issues swiftly and ensure everyone feels confident about the water quality. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the City of Van Alstyne at 903-482-5426, or email waterquality@cityofvanalstyne.us.
In case you missed our town hall on this topic, get the story here from KXII.
Chloramine transition presentation from Public Works Director, Bob Johnson.
Van Alstyne Sports Authority
The City of Van Alstyne is proud to support the Van Alstyne Sports Authority (VASA), our local, youth sports organization dedicated to enriching our community. VASA serves boys and girls ages 3 to 14, offering a variety of sports programs designed to promote teamwork, build skills, and foster community spirit.
The current sports offered by VASA are: flag football, tackle football, sideline cheer, volleyball, basketball, baseball, softball and now soccer! They just completed their first soccer season and we heard the feedback was wonderful! Their seasons are listed here on their SportsEngine site and you can sign up there as well.
VASA is open to registrations from neighboring communities, ensuring that all children have the chance to participate and benefit from the local programs. However, some leagues may require children to be enrolled in Van Alstyne schools for eligibility. This policy helps ensure our local athletes can compete and develop in a supportive environment.
Most VASA games take place within a 30-minute radius of Van Alstyne, though locations may vary by sport and league. As our community and parks and recreation department grows, they are striving to host more leagues locally as the facility options are added.
For the latest news and FAQs, we encourage residents to visit the VASA website and follow their social media pages. These platforms provide up-to-date information on programs, events, and opportunities for community involvement. We invite all community members to get involved, whether by volunteering, attending meetings, or supporting our young athletes at games. Together, we can continue to build a vibrant and supportive sports community in Van Alstyne.
For more information, please visit Van Alstyne Sports Authority About Us and VASA on SportsEngine.
Crystal DeBacker
Media Coordinator
City of Van Alstyne
cdebacker@cityofvanalstyne.us
903-357-1088
Van Alstyne Senior Center
The Van Alstyne Senior Center is located in downtown Van Alstyne across from the County Government Office at 148 S. Main St., Van Alstyne, TX 75495. Anyone 55 or older may join and participate in the social events, lunch, games, exercises and more!
Our Senior Center is a satellite location for Meals and Wheels which provides lunch Monday through Friday for just a $2 donation to the Senior Center. Lunch is served at 11:30am and you can find the lunch details are shared before hand on the Van Alstyne Senior Center Facebook Group.
In addition to a yummy meal served daily, the Senior Center also has daily activities. This ranges from low impact exercise classes to apple pie contests like today! Senior Center Director, Tom Kreminski, also coordinates an array of events and guest speakers to keep members informed on the community.
The reoccurring schedule of events is as follows:
Monday at 12:30 – Chair Volleyball
Tuesday at 10:30 – Chair Yoga
Wednesday at 12:30 – Wild Card Wednesday Bridge Club
Thursday at 10:30 – Chair Yoga
at 12:00 – Bingo
at 1:00 – Chair Exercise
Friday at 12:15 – Line Dancing
The 1st Monday of the month is Book Club, the 1st Friday of the month is Float Friday, and the 4th Friday of the month is a Birthday Celebration for the birthdays that month. The 3rd Saturday of the month from 6pm-8pm is Live Music.
Stay up to date with the events and schedule on the website at vaseniorcenter.com.
Crystal DeBacker
Media Coordinator
City of Van Alstyne
cdebacker@cityofvanalstyne.us
903-357-1088
