"TxDOT has told us we need to make a decision. They are being highly unreasonable in their time frames."
NTTA to consider SH 121 bid next week
May 04, 2006
By Amy Morenz
The Allen American
Copyright 2006
North Texas Tollway Authority commissioners are expected to decide on Wednesday if they want to build a State Highway 121 toll road in Collin County or manage the tollway for a private company that would build it.
State highway officials told the NTTA on Friday they have to decide by May 10, said Texas Department of Transportation spokesman Mark Ball.
“TxDOT has told us we need to make a decision. They are being highly unreasonable in their time frames,” said NTTA chair Dave Blair. “I don’t know what I will recommend. We would be considered as a bidder like everybody else and be in line.”
NTTA board members could examine a proposed interim solution to provide toll facilities for the Denton County section of State Highway 121, which is expected to be completed next month. The new SH 121 link will be completed without toll equipment needed to operate, Blair said.
From the start of the debate, state transportation officials have been leaning toward a private developer to sign a Comprehensive Development Agreement, which would provide upfront money to finance other road projects. State gas-tax dollars to don’t provide enough money to build and maintain Texas roads, TxDOT officials have said.
After almost two years of examining SH 121 toll road possibilities, Collin County commissioners were divided on April 21 about continuing to support the NTTA to build and manage SH 121 toll roads. Commissioners Joe Jaynes and Jerry Hoagland supported using a private company. Frisco previously rescinded a resolution that supported county the NTTA to build and operate the road.
The Regional Transportation Council, which distributes federal funding, approved a plan on April 13 that is considered a boom for private companies. Some believe it will help them pay $700 million to 900 million upfront for the right to build the main lanes and interchanges.
The RTC has been analyzing a funding crisis that includes $16.2 billion to improve capacity requirements and $31.4 billion for road rehabilitation.
The NTTA’s pending decision comes at the same time that Duncanville Councilman Grady Smithey is explaining his Regional Transportation Council vote.
While Plano Councilman Scott Johnson has described the proposal as “Robin Hood for roads,” southern Dallas County has contributed more to the regional system for years, Smithey said.
Southern Dallas County provided $833 million of gas tax funds to finance half the costs of building the President George Bush Turnpike that subsidizes its toll rates. The tollway’s rates would be double without that subsidy, he said.
“If anything, we have had a reverse Robin Hood program in effect -- delaying for years central and southern Dallas County improvements to fund northern Dallas and southern Collin and Denton growth,” Smithey wrote.
TxDOT figures show southern Dallas County has contributed $415 million for capacity improvements. Collin County received $792 per person in capacity improvements per person, compared with $497 for southern Dallas County, TxDOT data show.
“If we had those toll roads in southern Dallas County today, it would have fueled growth,” Smithey said.
The state also lent the NTTA funds to build the toll system, including $833 million that is gradually being repaid, he said. The state built frontage roads and exchanges for Bush Turnpike and has not been reimbursed $750,000 for yearly service road maintenance, Smithey said.
Tolls would pay for building and operation of SH 121 main lanes and constructing interchanges at North Central Expressway and the Dallas North Tollway.
Staff writer Krystal De Los Santos contributed to this story. Contact staff writer Amy Morenz at 972-398-4263 or amy.morenz@scntx.com.
Copyright © 2006 Star Community Newspapers www.courier-gazette.com
May 04, 2006
By Amy Morenz
The Allen American
Copyright 2006
North Texas Tollway Authority commissioners are expected to decide on Wednesday if they want to build a State Highway 121 toll road in Collin County or manage the tollway for a private company that would build it.
State highway officials told the NTTA on Friday they have to decide by May 10, said Texas Department of Transportation spokesman Mark Ball.
“TxDOT has told us we need to make a decision. They are being highly unreasonable in their time frames,” said NTTA chair Dave Blair. “I don’t know what I will recommend. We would be considered as a bidder like everybody else and be in line.”
NTTA board members could examine a proposed interim solution to provide toll facilities for the Denton County section of State Highway 121, which is expected to be completed next month. The new SH 121 link will be completed without toll equipment needed to operate, Blair said.
From the start of the debate, state transportation officials have been leaning toward a private developer to sign a Comprehensive Development Agreement, which would provide upfront money to finance other road projects. State gas-tax dollars to don’t provide enough money to build and maintain Texas roads, TxDOT officials have said.
After almost two years of examining SH 121 toll road possibilities, Collin County commissioners were divided on April 21 about continuing to support the NTTA to build and manage SH 121 toll roads. Commissioners Joe Jaynes and Jerry Hoagland supported using a private company. Frisco previously rescinded a resolution that supported county the NTTA to build and operate the road.
The Regional Transportation Council, which distributes federal funding, approved a plan on April 13 that is considered a boom for private companies. Some believe it will help them pay $700 million to 900 million upfront for the right to build the main lanes and interchanges.
The RTC has been analyzing a funding crisis that includes $16.2 billion to improve capacity requirements and $31.4 billion for road rehabilitation.
The NTTA’s pending decision comes at the same time that Duncanville Councilman Grady Smithey is explaining his Regional Transportation Council vote.
While Plano Councilman Scott Johnson has described the proposal as “Robin Hood for roads,” southern Dallas County has contributed more to the regional system for years, Smithey said.
Southern Dallas County provided $833 million of gas tax funds to finance half the costs of building the President George Bush Turnpike that subsidizes its toll rates. The tollway’s rates would be double without that subsidy, he said.
“If anything, we have had a reverse Robin Hood program in effect -- delaying for years central and southern Dallas County improvements to fund northern Dallas and southern Collin and Denton growth,” Smithey wrote.
TxDOT figures show southern Dallas County has contributed $415 million for capacity improvements. Collin County received $792 per person in capacity improvements per person, compared with $497 for southern Dallas County, TxDOT data show.
“If we had those toll roads in southern Dallas County today, it would have fueled growth,” Smithey said.
The state also lent the NTTA funds to build the toll system, including $833 million that is gradually being repaid, he said. The state built frontage roads and exchanges for Bush Turnpike and has not been reimbursed $750,000 for yearly service road maintenance, Smithey said.
Tolls would pay for building and operation of SH 121 main lanes and constructing interchanges at North Central Expressway and the Dallas North Tollway.
Staff writer Krystal De Los Santos contributed to this story. Contact staff writer Amy Morenz at 972-398-4263 or amy.morenz@scntx.com.
Copyright © 2006 Star Community Newspapers
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Thursday, May 04, 2006
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