"Some commissioners have stated a preference for private companies "
NTTA approves SH 121 toll involvement
02/02/2006
By Amy Morenz,
The Allen American
Copyright 2006
North Texas Tollway Authority board members are facing a critical week after unanimously demonstrating their willingness for the agency to build State Highway 121 main lanes and interchanges on Monday.
The board-approved plan would have the NTTA build the toll road in a partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation. The cities of Allen, Frisco, Plano and McKinney, and Collin County all have upcoming meetings to endorse the plan this week. Allen's will take place at 6 p.m. Monday at City Hall.
The final costs for 50 years could total $1.543 billion, according to NTTA estimates.
Maintaining SH 121 for 50 years could cost $591million; project management of frontage roads total another $66 million; and maintenance adds $517 million.
The NTTA will bring its proposal to the Regional Transportation Council on Feb. 9, said Paul Wageman, Collin County's NTTA board representative. Collin County leaders were told on Dec. 15 that a RTC endorsement would receive "significant weight," the NTTA's executive summary said.
The NTTA's proposal calls charging a toll of 12 cents per mile to fund the estimated $368 million needed to build main lanes and interchanges at Central Expressway and Dallas North Tollway. The 12.8-mile Collin County project would consist of a six-lane tolled facility between the Dallas North Tollway and North Central Expressway. The main lanes could open in 2008 and interchanges by 2010.
"Such a plan would accommodate the current pace of construction on SH 121," the executive summary states.
"We've been able to put together a very strong proposal," Wageman said. "We expect more questions to be out there."
The NTTA's involvement would mean lower toll rates than a private company would charge, faster completion because of the NTTA's track record and revenue to pay for other local projects, the NTTA's executive summary states. The NTTA's involvement would maintain local control and accountability, including setting toll rates, it adds.
The project is one of the most "financially feasible in the nation," the NTTA plan states. The NTTA is prepared to provide $4.5 billion in transportation funding to North Texas, including the Trinity Parkway, Lewisville Lake Bridge, Southwest Parkway and President George Bush Turnpike's eastern extension, it adds.
Revenues from NTTA's construction of SH 121 would cover all of the project costs, maintenance and debt service, its SH 121 proposal states. Enough extra revenues would pay TxDOT for the right-of-way it owns over a 50 year repayment period. Annual payments to TxDOT will be detailed in a separate agreement with Collin County, its four major cities and the RTC. A similar approach was adopted by the RTC for the Denton County portion of SH 121 and State Highway 161 in Dallas County, the NTTA executive summary states.
Collin County asked for the NTTA to become involved after four private companies submitted unsolicited proposals to the Texas Highway Commission directly. Some commissioners have stated a preference for private companies as an additional source of revenue to fund other state highway projects.
The state is now stressing tolls as a revenue source to fund upcoming highway construction projects. With highway gas tax revenues limited, some transportation experts consider tolls as a source of financing project and generating additional revenues to pay for other neary projects.
"The highlight is that we are proposing what the four cities and county want to keep to toll rate as low as possible," said NTTA chair Dave Blair. "We need to satisfy TxDOT that there will be enough money left over ...to pay them for the road."
Two agreements will be needed to make the NTTA's involvement a reality, said Collin County Judge Ron Harris. The NTTA and TxDOT will need to finish its detailed review, and the cities and Collin County will need to finish paperwork with the RTC.
County leaders have been scurrying to meet a timetable before next week's RTC meeting and the Feb. 23 Texas Highway Commission meeting. The RTC serves at regional entity that dispenses federal highway funds.
Contact staff writer Amy Morenz at 972-398-4263 or amy.morenz@scntx.com
©Star Community Newspapers 2006 www.zwire.com
02/02/2006
By Amy Morenz,
The Allen American
Copyright 2006
North Texas Tollway Authority board members are facing a critical week after unanimously demonstrating their willingness for the agency to build State Highway 121 main lanes and interchanges on Monday.
The board-approved plan would have the NTTA build the toll road in a partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation. The cities of Allen, Frisco, Plano and McKinney, and Collin County all have upcoming meetings to endorse the plan this week. Allen's will take place at 6 p.m. Monday at City Hall.
The final costs for 50 years could total $1.543 billion, according to NTTA estimates.
Maintaining SH 121 for 50 years could cost $591million; project management of frontage roads total another $66 million; and maintenance adds $517 million.
The NTTA will bring its proposal to the Regional Transportation Council on Feb. 9, said Paul Wageman, Collin County's NTTA board representative. Collin County leaders were told on Dec. 15 that a RTC endorsement would receive "significant weight," the NTTA's executive summary said.
The NTTA's proposal calls charging a toll of 12 cents per mile to fund the estimated $368 million needed to build main lanes and interchanges at Central Expressway and Dallas North Tollway. The 12.8-mile Collin County project would consist of a six-lane tolled facility between the Dallas North Tollway and North Central Expressway. The main lanes could open in 2008 and interchanges by 2010.
"Such a plan would accommodate the current pace of construction on SH 121," the executive summary states.
"We've been able to put together a very strong proposal," Wageman said. "We expect more questions to be out there."
The NTTA's involvement would mean lower toll rates than a private company would charge, faster completion because of the NTTA's track record and revenue to pay for other local projects, the NTTA's executive summary states. The NTTA's involvement would maintain local control and accountability, including setting toll rates, it adds.
The project is one of the most "financially feasible in the nation," the NTTA plan states. The NTTA is prepared to provide $4.5 billion in transportation funding to North Texas, including the Trinity Parkway, Lewisville Lake Bridge, Southwest Parkway and President George Bush Turnpike's eastern extension, it adds.
Revenues from NTTA's construction of SH 121 would cover all of the project costs, maintenance and debt service, its SH 121 proposal states. Enough extra revenues would pay TxDOT for the right-of-way it owns over a 50 year repayment period. Annual payments to TxDOT will be detailed in a separate agreement with Collin County, its four major cities and the RTC. A similar approach was adopted by the RTC for the Denton County portion of SH 121 and State Highway 161 in Dallas County, the NTTA executive summary states.
Collin County asked for the NTTA to become involved after four private companies submitted unsolicited proposals to the Texas Highway Commission directly. Some commissioners have stated a preference for private companies as an additional source of revenue to fund other state highway projects.
The state is now stressing tolls as a revenue source to fund upcoming highway construction projects. With highway gas tax revenues limited, some transportation experts consider tolls as a source of financing project and generating additional revenues to pay for other neary projects.
"The highlight is that we are proposing what the four cities and county want to keep to toll rate as low as possible," said NTTA chair Dave Blair. "We need to satisfy TxDOT that there will be enough money left over ...to pay them for the road."
Two agreements will be needed to make the NTTA's involvement a reality, said Collin County Judge Ron Harris. The NTTA and TxDOT will need to finish its detailed review, and the cities and Collin County will need to finish paperwork with the RTC.
County leaders have been scurrying to meet a timetable before next week's RTC meeting and the Feb. 23 Texas Highway Commission meeting. The RTC serves at regional entity that dispenses federal highway funds.
Contact staff writer Amy Morenz at 972-398-4263 or amy.morenz@scntx.com
©Star Community Newspapers 2006
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Thursday, February 02, 2006
<< Home