Commissioner John Stacy provides an update on Rockwall County transportation and development issues

Rockwall County, Texas (November 13, 2025) – Commissioner John Stacy has released an update highlighting four key issues currently being addressed by the Rockwall County Commissioner’s Court. These issues — growth and development, regional transportation planning, the Trip 21 Road Bond Program, and local road construction — represent some of the most significant concerns impacting Rockwall County residents today.

A Message from John Stacy, Rockwall County Commissioner:

(Note: These are my personal views and not the official position of the Commissioner’s Court.)

The Commissioner’s Court is currently addressing four issues that have a great impact on our county:

1. Holding developers accountable for MUDs (Municipal Utility Districts) outside city limits.
   2. Coordinating with state and federal agencies on the proposed outer loop.
   3. Advancing the Trip 21 Road Bond Program.
   4. Building the roads our citizens urgently need.

MUDs and the Proposed Outer Loop

The Court is committed to holding developers accountable to ensure responsible growth outside city limits.

We are also working with state and federal partners to plan the proposed regional outer loop, a project that has been discussed for nearly 20 years. Our goal is to make sure any future plans truly benefit Rockwall County residents — especially along the section from the Kaufman County line north to SH 276.

Trip 21 Road Bond Program

In November 2021, voters approved a $150 million bond with 26 listed projects. Even though the Court has not yet issued new bond funds from Trip 21, we have been actively advancing these projects using leftover funds from the 2004 and 2008 bond programs — about $57 million in total. This has allowed 11 of the 26 projects to begin engineering and preliminary work.

On November 12, 2025, the Court took action to issue $50 million in new Trip 21 funding. With this step, 23 of the 26 projects will now be moving forward. This is an aggressive and proactive effort to prepare as many projects as possible for our state and federal partners to help construct.

The Challenge of Building Roads

We know residents want to see roads built, not just planned. However, Trip 21 was created before any current Court member took office and was designed to get projects engineered and ready for construction.

Completing all Trip 21 projects will require nearly $700 million in state and federal investment after Rockwall County spends its $150 million locally. For example, improvements to State Highway 205 are expected to cost about $327 million for construction, with work planned to begin in 2027. State projects often take 10–15 years, and TxDOT currently has only about half the funding needed statewide.

Moving Forward

The current Court is committed to doing more with what we have. In my precinct (Precinct 4), the original plan called for building one road and planning six. I’ve worked to revise it so four roads will be built, while still preparing all projects for future state funding.

The Court is holding developers accountable, funding Trip 21 projects, and coordinating with our state and federal partners to plan for Rockwall County’s future transportation needs.

Building roads is expensive and slow, but together, we’ll keep moving forward as a community.

Thank you, and God bless.

~ John Stacy, Rockwall County Commissioner

Submitted press release, edited for publication in Blue Ribbon News. Courtesy photo.

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