Denton City Council failed to reach a consensus on a resolution endorsing Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) routes for the Denton County Outer Loop freeway, voting 3‑3 during its Oct. 27 meeting. The deadlock means the city has not formally supported any alignment while TxDOT continues its environmental review.

The council’s transportation staff had recommended the city back Alignments B and B2, two of four possible routes for the 20‑mile, six‑lane Outer Loop that would link I‑35 in Denton County with the Dallas North Tollway in Collin County. Alignments B and B2 run along Denton’s municipal boundaries, whereas the other two alternatives lie in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.

According to the staff’s analysis, Denton lacks a contiguous east‑west corridor, its population and employment are projected to double by 2050, and expanding road capacity is needed to curb congestion. The staff also noted that Alignments B and B2 present lower floodplain and environmental risks than the other options. TxDOT and Denton County are jointly advancing the Outer Loop, inviting cities along the corridor to review alignments and submit resolutions expressing preferences or concerns.

During the council discussion, only Council Member Suzi Rumohr spoke, opposing the recommendation. Rumohr warned that endorsing the route could spur “really sprawling development” and strain taxpayers who are already financing extensive infrastructure. She recalled asking a project planner a year earlier how officials intended to mitigate congestion and fatalities on the Outer Loop; the planner suggested widening the road. Rumohr pointed out that widening I‑35 has not eliminated congestion or traffic deaths, saying, “Which is what we’re doing with I‑35… And it’s still congested, still killing people.”

The council originally placed the recommendation on its consent agenda for the Oct. 13 meeting, but it was pulled for individual discussion and postponed, leading to the tie vote two weeks later.

What’s next: TxDOT plans to formally recommend its preferred alternative alignment by the end of 2026, followed by a final Environmental Impact Statement and official route selection in 2027. For Denton to endorse a route before that timeline, a council member would need to request a motion for reconsideration, or staff would have to present a revised resolution.

Sources: communityimpact.com