TxDOT: "Trust us."
Officials seek local control of toll road
Collin County: They say tollway authority may mean savings on SH121
December 16, 2005
By LEE POWELL
The Dallas Morning News
Copyright 2005
AUSTIN – The rebirth of State Highway 121 as a toll road is best left in the family, a Collin County contingent told state officials Thursday.
They would like the Plano-based North Texas Tollway Authority to build and operate the road, rather than a private partnership with large foreign investment.
Local officials may get their wish: Members of the Texas Transportation Commission promised to respect regional desires.
Still, there are miles to go in figuring out how the highway gets an upgrade, and whether the tollway authority is at the helm. Charging tolls on Highway 121 means the roadway gets rebuilt more quickly, accommodating crushing traffic spurred by rapid growth.
The fate of Highway 121 through Collin County dominated part of a larger exchange Thursday between local transportation officials and the state on funding highway projects in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Much of that funding will come from toll roads, as mobility needs far outstrip available revenue.
Fervor for the tollway authority fronting a Highway 121 toll road prompted a parade of Collin County officials to show up at Thursday's transportation commission meeting, including the mayors of Plano, Allen, Frisco and McKinney.
Their message: The tollway authority has a track record from past projects, is willing to take on the road and may charge cheaper tolls. A rate of 15 cents a mile has been discussed if tolls generate revenue for other roadwork, as anticipated.
Another operator could set higher rates, Collin County officials warned Thursday, in an area already girded by toll roads. Plano could have them on three of its four sides, Mayor Pat Evans said.
"The whole purpose of it is to try to save our citizens some money," said Frisco City Manager George Purefoy.
He said little is known about the comprehensive development agreement process and the struggle to get the state's approval to build and operate a toll road since details are cloaked behind nondisclosure agreements to protect proprietary information.
State transportation commission members, appointees of the governor, said their interest is respecting regional wishes. But they also have a responsibility to improve state assets like highways in the most cost effective way possible.
"You've got to trust us," said commissioner Hope Andrade of San Antonio. "We're not trying to do anything to harm your region. We're trying to help your region."
The tollway authority's board will consider moving forward with a Highway 121 plan when it meets next week.
Any plan must be blessed by a regional transportation planning body and, ultimately, the state. It is likely the tollway authority will be up against private partnerships eyeing the highway's revenue potential.
"We just want to have the opportunity on behalf of the cities and county to come forth with a proposal," said Collin County Commissioner Jack Hatchell. "Allow the NTTA ... to submit a proposal and take the chance and get it in the mix."
Bring it on – just realize where the state is coming from, said transportation commission chair Ric Williamson.
"The NTTA goal is building a highway that's needed, keeping cost as low as possible," he said. "But that's not necessarily in the best interest of solving the state's transportation dilemma. What the state's best interest is let consumers decide what that toll is."
All tolls would be collected electronically, Mr. Williamson reiterated at Thursday's meeting.
In the past, some Collin County officials have questioned the wisdom of having a toll road that only motorists with electronic toll cards can use. This could limit revenue potential or create a safety hazard as motorists not from the area realize they cannot pay with change.
E-mail lkpowell@dallasnews.com
Dallas Morning News: www.dallasnews.com
Collin County: They say tollway authority may mean savings on SH121
December 16, 2005
By LEE POWELL
The Dallas Morning News
Copyright 2005
AUSTIN – The rebirth of State Highway 121 as a toll road is best left in the family, a Collin County contingent told state officials Thursday.
They would like the Plano-based North Texas Tollway Authority to build and operate the road, rather than a private partnership with large foreign investment.
Local officials may get their wish: Members of the Texas Transportation Commission promised to respect regional desires.
Still, there are miles to go in figuring out how the highway gets an upgrade, and whether the tollway authority is at the helm. Charging tolls on Highway 121 means the roadway gets rebuilt more quickly, accommodating crushing traffic spurred by rapid growth.
The fate of Highway 121 through Collin County dominated part of a larger exchange Thursday between local transportation officials and the state on funding highway projects in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Much of that funding will come from toll roads, as mobility needs far outstrip available revenue.
Fervor for the tollway authority fronting a Highway 121 toll road prompted a parade of Collin County officials to show up at Thursday's transportation commission meeting, including the mayors of Plano, Allen, Frisco and McKinney.
Their message: The tollway authority has a track record from past projects, is willing to take on the road and may charge cheaper tolls. A rate of 15 cents a mile has been discussed if tolls generate revenue for other roadwork, as anticipated.
Another operator could set higher rates, Collin County officials warned Thursday, in an area already girded by toll roads. Plano could have them on three of its four sides, Mayor Pat Evans said.
"The whole purpose of it is to try to save our citizens some money," said Frisco City Manager George Purefoy.
He said little is known about the comprehensive development agreement process and the struggle to get the state's approval to build and operate a toll road since details are cloaked behind nondisclosure agreements to protect proprietary information.
State transportation commission members, appointees of the governor, said their interest is respecting regional wishes. But they also have a responsibility to improve state assets like highways in the most cost effective way possible.
"You've got to trust us," said commissioner Hope Andrade of San Antonio. "We're not trying to do anything to harm your region. We're trying to help your region."
The tollway authority's board will consider moving forward with a Highway 121 plan when it meets next week.
Any plan must be blessed by a regional transportation planning body and, ultimately, the state. It is likely the tollway authority will be up against private partnerships eyeing the highway's revenue potential.
"We just want to have the opportunity on behalf of the cities and county to come forth with a proposal," said Collin County Commissioner Jack Hatchell. "Allow the NTTA ... to submit a proposal and take the chance and get it in the mix."
Bring it on – just realize where the state is coming from, said transportation commission chair Ric Williamson.
"The NTTA goal is building a highway that's needed, keeping cost as low as possible," he said. "But that's not necessarily in the best interest of solving the state's transportation dilemma. What the state's best interest is let consumers decide what that toll is."
All tolls would be collected electronically, Mr. Williamson reiterated at Thursday's meeting.
In the past, some Collin County officials have questioned the wisdom of having a toll road that only motorists with electronic toll cards can use. This could limit revenue potential or create a safety hazard as motorists not from the area realize they cannot pay with change.
E-mail lkpowell@dallasnews.com
Dallas Morning News:
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Friday, December 16, 2005
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