"We are fighting for what our citizens want."
Panel backs putting tolls on 121 stretch
Rates could be higher than other roads; votes counter Frisco's wishes
April 14, 2006
By TONY HARTZEL
The Dallas Morning News
Copyright 2006
A divided Regional Transportation Council voted to approve placing tolls on State Highway 121, one of only a handful of instances where the group has endorsed a road project over the wishes of a nearby local government.
And in another vote that could set a precedent for the region, the group approved setting tolls on Highway 121 that could be higher than other area toll roads. The proposal also could result in motorists paying an even higher premium for driving during peak commute times.
Thursday's votes approve:
• Setting average toll rates of 14.5 cents per mile on Highway 121 from Central Expressway to near the Dallas-Denton county line.
• Setting maximum toll rates of 17 cents per mile to drive from 6:30 to 9 a.m. and from 3 to 6 p.m.
• Requiring 75 percent of excess toll revenue – estimated at $750 million to $1 billion – to be paid in an upfront payment, and 25 percent would be paid over time.
The toll rates could go lower when private companies submit bids for the rights to build and operate the Highway 121 toll road. Those bids should come in late this year.
The votes counter an April 4 resolution approved by the Frisco City Council, which states that the council does not support placing tolls on Highway 121 "at the present time."
The resolution adds, however, that Frisco leaders are willing to discuss Highway 121 options as the region evaluates proposals from private consortia and the North Texas Tollway Authority around the end of the year.
'Not real happy'
"We're not real happy about it," Frisco Mayor Mike Simpson said. "We are fighting for what our citizens want."
The votes supersede local governments' wishes, and the maximum rates may be too high, Collin County Commissioner Jack Hatchell said.
"I didn't agree with the toll rates that were set," he said. "That was my main concern."
The Regional Transportation Council will take Frisco's concerns into account, said Michael Morris, director of transportation for the North Central Texas Council of Governments. The key is that Frisco has signaled its intention to continue talking about Highway 121 as a toll road, Mr. Morris said.
"I think Frisco's position is the same. They're just arguing it from a different point of view," he said.
Mr. Morris serves as the primary adviser to the Regional Transportation Council.
The transportation council is made up of 40 appointed members, most of whom belong to area city councils or commissioners courts. The group has authority to approve most road projects in the urban area.
Driving the Highway 121 toll issue is the stated need to raise more money for road construction in North Texas. The state gas tax has remained flat at 20 cents per gallon since 1991, and state leaders now say that it would have to rise dramatically – at least 75 cents per gallon for 10 years – to make a noticeable dent in Texas' road construction needs.
"We are so far behind, we have to maximize our returns on any toll road," said Duncanville City Council member Grady Smithey, who sits on the Regional Transportation Council.
"This is the toughest issue I've faced in my 13 years on the RTC," he said.
To Mr. Simpson, the Frisco mayor, the issue of higher tolls could affect company decisions to bring jobs to Collin County because of the effect on wage-earners' pocketbooks.
A McKinney resident who works at EDS in Plano would have to pay $1,105 a year to travel on Highway 121 based on the new toll rate set Thursday, he said.
In addition, the operators of three regional sports venues and a major regional mall didn't know there would be toll roads on two sides of them when they decided to open in Frisco, he said.
"If I were Arlington, how would I feel if Highway 360 were tolled and I-30 were tolled?" he asked. "They wouldn't like it."
Sharing of revenue
Regional leaders also adopted a policy Thursday that dictates how future excess toll revenue will be shared. For any new toll projects like Highway 121, a percentage of excess toll revenue would be set aside for each county in the area. That percentage would be based upon the share of motorists from each area county.
The maximum toll rates approved Thursday also contrast with an offer from the North Texas Tollway Authority to build the Highway 121 toll road in Collin County and charge 12 cents per mile when it opens.
The tollway authority offer came after private companies submitted proposals to pay the state to allow them to build and operate Highway 121 as a toll road.
Thursday's vote could affect motorists in many areas of North Texas. The use of variable tolls could be applied to future area toll roads, including State Highway 161 in southwest Dallas County.
E-mail thartzel@dallasnews.com
© 2006 The Dallas Morning News Co www.dallasnews.com
Rates could be higher than other roads; votes counter Frisco's wishes
April 14, 2006
By TONY HARTZEL
The Dallas Morning News
Copyright 2006
A divided Regional Transportation Council voted to approve placing tolls on State Highway 121, one of only a handful of instances where the group has endorsed a road project over the wishes of a nearby local government.
And in another vote that could set a precedent for the region, the group approved setting tolls on Highway 121 that could be higher than other area toll roads. The proposal also could result in motorists paying an even higher premium for driving during peak commute times.
Thursday's votes approve:
• Setting average toll rates of 14.5 cents per mile on Highway 121 from Central Expressway to near the Dallas-Denton county line.
• Setting maximum toll rates of 17 cents per mile to drive from 6:30 to 9 a.m. and from 3 to 6 p.m.
• Requiring 75 percent of excess toll revenue – estimated at $750 million to $1 billion – to be paid in an upfront payment, and 25 percent would be paid over time.
The toll rates could go lower when private companies submit bids for the rights to build and operate the Highway 121 toll road. Those bids should come in late this year.
The votes counter an April 4 resolution approved by the Frisco City Council, which states that the council does not support placing tolls on Highway 121 "at the present time."
The resolution adds, however, that Frisco leaders are willing to discuss Highway 121 options as the region evaluates proposals from private consortia and the North Texas Tollway Authority around the end of the year.
'Not real happy'
"We're not real happy about it," Frisco Mayor Mike Simpson said. "We are fighting for what our citizens want."
The votes supersede local governments' wishes, and the maximum rates may be too high, Collin County Commissioner Jack Hatchell said.
"I didn't agree with the toll rates that were set," he said. "That was my main concern."
The Regional Transportation Council will take Frisco's concerns into account, said Michael Morris, director of transportation for the North Central Texas Council of Governments. The key is that Frisco has signaled its intention to continue talking about Highway 121 as a toll road, Mr. Morris said.
"I think Frisco's position is the same. They're just arguing it from a different point of view," he said.
Mr. Morris serves as the primary adviser to the Regional Transportation Council.
The transportation council is made up of 40 appointed members, most of whom belong to area city councils or commissioners courts. The group has authority to approve most road projects in the urban area.
Driving the Highway 121 toll issue is the stated need to raise more money for road construction in North Texas. The state gas tax has remained flat at 20 cents per gallon since 1991, and state leaders now say that it would have to rise dramatically – at least 75 cents per gallon for 10 years – to make a noticeable dent in Texas' road construction needs.
"We are so far behind, we have to maximize our returns on any toll road," said Duncanville City Council member Grady Smithey, who sits on the Regional Transportation Council.
"This is the toughest issue I've faced in my 13 years on the RTC," he said.
To Mr. Simpson, the Frisco mayor, the issue of higher tolls could affect company decisions to bring jobs to Collin County because of the effect on wage-earners' pocketbooks.
A McKinney resident who works at EDS in Plano would have to pay $1,105 a year to travel on Highway 121 based on the new toll rate set Thursday, he said.
In addition, the operators of three regional sports venues and a major regional mall didn't know there would be toll roads on two sides of them when they decided to open in Frisco, he said.
"If I were Arlington, how would I feel if Highway 360 were tolled and I-30 were tolled?" he asked. "They wouldn't like it."
Sharing of revenue
Regional leaders also adopted a policy Thursday that dictates how future excess toll revenue will be shared. For any new toll projects like Highway 121, a percentage of excess toll revenue would be set aside for each county in the area. That percentage would be based upon the share of motorists from each area county.
The maximum toll rates approved Thursday also contrast with an offer from the North Texas Tollway Authority to build the Highway 121 toll road in Collin County and charge 12 cents per mile when it opens.
The tollway authority offer came after private companies submitted proposals to pay the state to allow them to build and operate Highway 121 as a toll road.
Thursday's vote could affect motorists in many areas of North Texas. The use of variable tolls could be applied to future area toll roads, including State Highway 161 in southwest Dallas County.
E-mail thartzel@dallasnews.com
© 2006 The Dallas Morning News Co
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Friday, April 14, 2006
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