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Distribution pipes in Plano reach 17% cast iron amid ongoing pipe replacement projects

City of Plano data shows about 240 miles of the city’s distribution pipes are made of cast iron after ongoing water rehabilitation projects, which replace aging pipes.

Public Works Community Investment Project Manager Drew Zaeske said distribution mains are city pipes under 12 inches that are used in neighborhoods.

Current situation: A large portion of the city’s cast iron pipes are located in central and east Plano in the oldest parts of the city, Zaeske said.

Dig deeper: Zaeske said the city has roughly 1,450 miles of distribution mains across the city. He said 70% of those lines are PVC pipes, while 17% are cast iron. The other 13% are made of ductile iron, a more durable type of cast iron.

What residents should know: Clay Lipscomb, the city’s community investment program engineering manager, said water rehabilitation projects last between nine to 12 months depending on its size, and work is done in phases.

 
CI Business
Toyota expands headquarters with new Frisco building

Toyota expanded its operations in North Texas with the opening of a new building in Frisco.

The seven-story, 242,000-square-foot building is capable of seating 1,000 Toyota Financial Services employees, according to a company news release.

The specifics: The new space is located across SH 121 from Toyota’s North American headquarters in Plano.

The building will offer “much-needed” office space and additional parking, the release states. 

 
On The Transportation Beat
DART board selects Florida transit executive Nathaniel Ford as new CEO

The Dallas Area Rapid Transit board of directors selected Florida transit executive Nathaniel Ford Sr. as the agency’s next CEO and president. The board approved Ford’s contract on July 21 in a 9-4 vote, with some board members expressing concern about “red flags” and compensation.

The overview: Ford has served as CEO of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority in Florida since 2012, according to a DART news release. Prior to his work in Florida, he served as CEO of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority.

Quote of note: “Mr. Ford brings decades of executive leadership in public transportation, a proven record of organizational transformation and a deep understanding that transit is about much more than buses and trains,” DART Board Chair Randall Bryant said in the release. “Today, we are turning the page. The board has made its decision and now it’s time to get back to what matters most, serving the people of North Texas.”

 

Your Weekend To-Do List

Check out these weekend events across the metro area.

Sounds of Summer: The After Party

Summerween!: "Practical Magic" Movie Screening

July 24, 8-10 p.m.
The Colony

July 24, 8-11 p.m.
Fort Worth

More info

More info

 

The Tequila Social Brunch

Weiner Fest dachshund festival

July 25, 11-2:30 p.m.
Dallas

July 26, 11-4 p.m.
Plano

More info

More info

 
To submit your own event, click here.

CI Texas
Texas on track to see record-breaking power demand amid triple-digit heat

With large parts of the state under an extreme heat warning or heat advisory through July 23, the operator of Texas’ independent power grid is projecting record-breaking electric demand this week.

What's happening: As of 3 p.m. July 22, there were 90,027 megawatts of demand on the grid with 113,543 megawatts of power available, according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas' real-time supply and demand dashboard. One megawatt of electricity can power about 250 homes during peak times.

This would break ERCOT’s current demand record of 85.5 gigawatts, which was set during an August 2023 heat wave. ERCOT spokesperson Trudi Webster cautioned that this week’s demand records are preliminary.

What it means: Texans should not expect a grid emergency during this week’s extreme heat.

ERCOT previously projected that demand would surpass 92,000 megawatts this summer, due to high temperatures, moderate rainfall and the growth of data centers.

This week's triple-digit temperatures come during the sunniest parts of the day, allowing the state to rely in part on solar energy to power the grid.

 

Your local team

Michael Crouchley
Editor

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