Frisco Council doesn't abide TxDOT's "deadline."
County toll plan up for Plano vote
By: Amy Morenz, Staff Writer
Plano Star Courier
Copyright 2005
Although the Frisco City Council tabled its decision on tolling State Highway 121, their Plano counterparts are scheduled to vote on the issue on Monday.
Council members will likely decide whether to support creation of a Collin County organization to manage tolls to finance main lanes and interchange construction. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at Plano Municipal Center, 1520 K Ave.
Allen's city council and Collin County commissioners are also expected to vote this week on the resolution, which the McKinney council passed last week.
The Frisco council, though, delayed its decision to Aug. 16, despite an Aug. 15 deadline set by the Texas Department of Transportation. They said the Regional Transportation Council that determines highway allocations won't meet until Sept. 8. Collin County and its four major cities - Plano, Allen, McKinney and Frisco -- have been told a consensus would help when they face state transportation leaders. Gas tax revenues are not allocated to build main lanes between the Hillcrest and Central Expressway, but they are allocated between the Dallas North Parkway and Hillcrest.
Decisions are still pending between Collin County Judge Ron Harris and TxDOT officials, City Manager George Purefoy told his council. Frisco has opposed the toll concept because of concerns that it would be bounded by two tolled highways - SH 121 and the Dallas North Tollway.
To forge a county-wide agreement, Plano Councilman Scott Johnson has participated in meetings between elected officials and transportation officials in the last few weeks. Plano's council will consider the resolution they created calling for a new county organization to build and manage the new toll road.
The project is estimated to cost $345 million. A 15 cent toll between the Dallas North Tollway and Central could generate $707.9 million in extra revenues to pay for the highway's long-term maintenance and operational costs, an earlier TxDOT study found.
Plano's key concern has been local management to make sure revenues from SH 121 do not fund other toll projects in the Metroplex. The construction, maintenance and operation of SH 121's main lanes and interchanges would be built and managed by a local authority under the resolution Plano will consider Monday.
The local group would contract with a provider to operate the tolls, seek the best financing to issue bonds and set tolls to pay debt service, improvements, maintenance and operations.
During previous council debate, Plano Councilman Shep Stahel questioned the safety of having only toll lanes with no cash options. He wondered if visitors from other areas could safely use toll lanes.
In other matters, Plano's council will conduct its formal public hearing about two budgets: its operational budget and community investment program.
Council members will vote on a proposal to consider an increase in total tax revenue and consider the appraisal roll of $98 million. Monday is the first public hearing on the budget, which will be analyzed in a Saturday workshop. Two public hearings on the tax rate are set for Aug. 22 and Aug. 31.
The operating budget calls for keeping the same tax rate of 45.35 cents per $100 of assessed value. The $332.6 million operating budget represent a six percent increase or $18.9 million hike from last year.
The average tax bill for Plano taxpayers could increase $20 a year based on the draft. The average Plano house value increased from $232,000 to $237,200, bringing the average tax bill from $841 to $861. Plano also provides a 20 percent homestead tax exemption, making it one of the lowest rates in the Metroplex, council members were told.
The council will see a presentation during its work session about allocation of bond funds to capital programs. Plano's consider allocated $27 million from the bond package approved in May for varied fire, parks and street projects. With $12.55 million scheduled in 2005, parks tops the list of community investment programs that are scheduled to start this year. The budget designates $8.1 million for new street projects, $5.5 million to fire facilities and $1.2 million for libraries and the Animal Shelter.
Contact staff writer Amy Morenz at 972-398-4263 or amy.morenz@scntx.com.
©Star Community Newspapers 2005: www.zwire.com
By: Amy Morenz, Staff Writer
Plano Star Courier
Copyright 2005
Although the Frisco City Council tabled its decision on tolling State Highway 121, their Plano counterparts are scheduled to vote on the issue on Monday.
Council members will likely decide whether to support creation of a Collin County organization to manage tolls to finance main lanes and interchange construction. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at Plano Municipal Center, 1520 K Ave.
Allen's city council and Collin County commissioners are also expected to vote this week on the resolution, which the McKinney council passed last week.
The Frisco council, though, delayed its decision to Aug. 16, despite an Aug. 15 deadline set by the Texas Department of Transportation. They said the Regional Transportation Council that determines highway allocations won't meet until Sept. 8. Collin County and its four major cities - Plano, Allen, McKinney and Frisco -- have been told a consensus would help when they face state transportation leaders. Gas tax revenues are not allocated to build main lanes between the Hillcrest and Central Expressway, but they are allocated between the Dallas North Parkway and Hillcrest.
Decisions are still pending between Collin County Judge Ron Harris and TxDOT officials, City Manager George Purefoy told his council. Frisco has opposed the toll concept because of concerns that it would be bounded by two tolled highways - SH 121 and the Dallas North Tollway.
To forge a county-wide agreement, Plano Councilman Scott Johnson has participated in meetings between elected officials and transportation officials in the last few weeks. Plano's council will consider the resolution they created calling for a new county organization to build and manage the new toll road.
The project is estimated to cost $345 million. A 15 cent toll between the Dallas North Tollway and Central could generate $707.9 million in extra revenues to pay for the highway's long-term maintenance and operational costs, an earlier TxDOT study found.
Plano's key concern has been local management to make sure revenues from SH 121 do not fund other toll projects in the Metroplex. The construction, maintenance and operation of SH 121's main lanes and interchanges would be built and managed by a local authority under the resolution Plano will consider Monday.
The local group would contract with a provider to operate the tolls, seek the best financing to issue bonds and set tolls to pay debt service, improvements, maintenance and operations.
During previous council debate, Plano Councilman Shep Stahel questioned the safety of having only toll lanes with no cash options. He wondered if visitors from other areas could safely use toll lanes.
In other matters, Plano's council will conduct its formal public hearing about two budgets: its operational budget and community investment program.
Council members will vote on a proposal to consider an increase in total tax revenue and consider the appraisal roll of $98 million. Monday is the first public hearing on the budget, which will be analyzed in a Saturday workshop. Two public hearings on the tax rate are set for Aug. 22 and Aug. 31.
The operating budget calls for keeping the same tax rate of 45.35 cents per $100 of assessed value. The $332.6 million operating budget represent a six percent increase or $18.9 million hike from last year.
The average tax bill for Plano taxpayers could increase $20 a year based on the draft. The average Plano house value increased from $232,000 to $237,200, bringing the average tax bill from $841 to $861. Plano also provides a 20 percent homestead tax exemption, making it one of the lowest rates in the Metroplex, council members were told.
The council will see a presentation during its work session about allocation of bond funds to capital programs. Plano's consider allocated $27 million from the bond package approved in May for varied fire, parks and street projects. With $12.55 million scheduled in 2005, parks tops the list of community investment programs that are scheduled to start this year. The budget designates $8.1 million for new street projects, $5.5 million to fire facilities and $1.2 million for libraries and the Animal Shelter.
Contact staff writer Amy Morenz at 972-398-4263 or amy.morenz@scntx.com.
©Star Community Newspapers 2005:
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Thursday, August 11, 2005
<< Home