Tarrant County freeways will have toll lanes
Private sector to get shot at road projects
March 30, 2006
By GORDON DICKSON
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Copyright 2006
The future of proposed car-pool and toll lanes on Tarrant County freeways is now in the hands of private enterprise.
The Texas Transportation Commission formally agreed Thursday to seek bids from the private sector to manage the expansion of Interstate 35W, Northeast Loop 820, Texas 183 and the Texas 114/121 Grapevine funnel. Those projects would feature median express lanes that single-occupant vehicles could use for a toll and car-poolers could use for free, or a reduced rate.
The toll would depend upon time of day.
Several teams of companies are expected to submit bids. The commission is expected to pick a winner by June 2007, and the projects could be under way by late 2007 or early 2008.
The winning bidder would also supervise nontoll lane construction on those roadways. The main lanes of the Grapevine funnel are expected to be rebuilt from 2007 to 2012. The schedule for the widening of I-35W, Northeast Loop 820 and Texas 183 hasn’t been determined.
While the commission was meeting Thursday in Austin, Metroplex leaders gathered in Arlington to negotiate how high they’re willing for tolls to be set.
Gordon Dickson, (817) 685-3816
gdickson@star-telegram.com
© 2006 Fort Worth Star-Telegram: www.dfw.com
March 30, 2006
By GORDON DICKSON
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Copyright 2006
The future of proposed car-pool and toll lanes on Tarrant County freeways is now in the hands of private enterprise.
The Texas Transportation Commission formally agreed Thursday to seek bids from the private sector to manage the expansion of Interstate 35W, Northeast Loop 820, Texas 183 and the Texas 114/121 Grapevine funnel. Those projects would feature median express lanes that single-occupant vehicles could use for a toll and car-poolers could use for free, or a reduced rate.
The toll would depend upon time of day.
Several teams of companies are expected to submit bids. The commission is expected to pick a winner by June 2007, and the projects could be under way by late 2007 or early 2008.
The winning bidder would also supervise nontoll lane construction on those roadways. The main lanes of the Grapevine funnel are expected to be rebuilt from 2007 to 2012. The schedule for the widening of I-35W, Northeast Loop 820 and Texas 183 hasn’t been determined.
While the commission was meeting Thursday in Austin, Metroplex leaders gathered in Arlington to negotiate how high they’re willing for tolls to be set.
Gordon Dickson, (817) 685-3816
gdickson@star-telegram.com
© 2006 Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Thursday, March 30, 2006
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