City leaders and the Willow Bend Redevelopment Advisory Committee met on Sept. 30 to outline a set of road‑way improvements aimed at handling the extra traffic the proposed Dallas Stars arena will generate, a development that could reshape daily commutes for Plano residents.

According to Community Impact, the committee is weighing several specific changes: a new traffic signal on Chapel Hill Boulevard, a new driveway off Dallas Parkway, three additional left‑turn lanes at the intersection of Park Boulevard and Dallas Parkway, an extra left‑turn lane on International Parkway, the removal of an existing signal on Park Boulevard, and the conversion of a raised median into a paved area for temporary traffic management.

Fehr & Peers principal agent John Gard told the meeting that the proposed modifications should accommodate the arena’s projected left‑turn traffic. “[The arena] is going to introduce a lot of left‑turn traffic,” Gard said, noting that many drivers will exit Dallas Parkway North and turn left to reach the site.

Mayor John Muns, speaking at a Plano Chamber of Commerce panel with the Dallas Stars on Oct. 22, emphasized the broader community benefits. He said the arena will create an entertainment district that encourages residents to dine and socialize beyond game nights, adding “more restaurants and bars that people will want to go to whether there’s a game or not.” Muns acknowledged resident frustration over traffic concerns, explaining that the city has not yet released detailed answers because the project remains in development.

Looking ahead, Muns said the city expects to finalize its agreement with the Stars in late November, with demolition of the existing mall slated to begin in February. Architecture planning for the arena is scheduled over the next three months, and eight entry points at Willow Bend will be expanded and improved as part of the overall plan.

Sources: communityimpact.com, communityimpact.com