SH 121 tolls: "Construction firms are vying for one project."
SH 121 toll contracts could be combined
June 13, 2006
By Amy Morenz
McKinney Courier-Gazette
Copyright 2006
The potentially lucrative State Highway 121 toll-road project just became bigger, with bidders vying for both the Collin County and Denton County sections.
Instead of bidding to build and operate sections in Collin County or operate the almost- complete Denton County portion, construction firms are vying for one project, Plano City Council members learned on Monday.
Skanska BOT made an unsolicited proposal to the Texas Department of Transportation to obtain a Comprehensive Development agreement for the SH 121 toll road in both counties. The North Texas Tollway Authority is expected to join the contest against Skanska, Macquarie Infrastructure , Cintra and Pioneer Heritage Parsons, an NTTA briefing document states.
Much of the $210 million Denton County portion of SH 121 from Coppell to the Dallas North Tollway on the Plano/Frisco border n including an interchange with Interstate 35E in Lewisville -- is complete. However, it cannot open until tolling equipment is in place because of a state law that prohibits free highways from becoming toll roads.
Under the toll agreement reached with Denton County, the state will spend $350 million on other Denton County projects.
The Collin County section would cover the portion from the Dallas North Tollway east to Central Expressway and include interchanges at the Dallas North Tollway and Central. The total cost is expected to be in the $752 million range.
State transportation officials have been leaning toward hiring a private developer to build Collin County’s SH 121 toll lanes since the debate over the project began last year. Their proposals would provide initial funds to pay for other transportation improvements.
A private company could generate $575 million in revenue in the Collin County portion over a 50-year period, compared with the $515 million that could be generated by a government-ruin agency, TxDOT engineer Bill Hale told RTC members earlier this year.
It could be March before the Texas Highway Commission selects the final contractor, Plano city engineer Allan Upchurch said on Monday. The Regional Transportation Council is expected to set evaluation criteria for the work during a meeting on Thursday, followed by an industry review in which each bidder would learn more about the project, he said.
Two months of analysis will probably be expected to review bids, which are due in November. From there, the RTC will is expected to allocate two months before a February decision, Upchurch said. The highway commission is expected to analyze e bids in March.
Collin County’s elected officials campaigned for the NTTA to compete for the job. In a split 4-3 vote, the NTTA board agreed to bid. Collin County wanted the NTTA to build and operate SH 121 and Denton County wanted a private company approved through a Comprehensive Development Agreement, NTTA chair Dave Blair said when the board approved its bid.
In other matters, Plano council members had a lively debate before tabling proposed changes to allow open house signs temporarily. Councilman Shep Stahel wanted to draft an ordinance that clearly states the rules applied to open house signs, not all real estate signs.
“We should make the rules workable rather than narrow,” said Councilman Harry LaRosiliere. “If we tighten them, it could be a burden on our inspectors.”
Plano’s city attorney will draft a definition of open house signs for the council’s next debate.
Contact staff writer Amy Morenz at 972-398-4263 or amy.morenz@scntx.com.
Copyright © 2006 Star Community Newspapers: courier-gazette.com
June 13, 2006
By Amy Morenz
McKinney Courier-Gazette
Copyright 2006
The potentially lucrative State Highway 121 toll-road project just became bigger, with bidders vying for both the Collin County and Denton County sections.
Instead of bidding to build and operate sections in Collin County or operate the almost- complete Denton County portion, construction firms are vying for one project, Plano City Council members learned on Monday.
Much of the $210 million Denton County portion of SH 121 from Coppell to the Dallas North Tollway on the Plano/Frisco border n including an interchange with Interstate 35E in Lewisville -- is complete. However, it cannot open until tolling equipment is in place because of a state law that prohibits free highways from becoming toll roads.
Under the toll agreement reached with Denton County, the state will spend $350 million on other Denton County projects.
The Collin County section would cover the portion from the Dallas North Tollway east to Central Expressway and include interchanges at the Dallas North Tollway and Central. The total cost is expected to be in the $752 million range.
State transportation officials have been leaning toward hiring a private developer to build Collin County’s SH 121 toll lanes since the debate over the project began last year. Their proposals would provide initial funds to pay for other transportation improvements.
A private company could generate $575 million in revenue in the Collin County portion over a 50-year period, compared with the $515 million that could be generated by a government-ruin agency, TxDOT engineer Bill Hale told RTC members earlier this year.
It could be March before the Texas Highway Commission selects the final contractor, Plano city engineer Allan Upchurch said on Monday. The Regional Transportation Council is expected to set evaluation criteria for the work during a meeting on Thursday, followed by an industry review in which each bidder would learn more about the project, he said.
Two months of analysis will probably be expected to review bids, which are due in November. From there, the RTC will is expected to allocate two months before a February decision, Upchurch said. The highway commission is expected to analyze e bids in March.
Collin County’s elected officials campaigned for the NTTA to compete for the job. In a split 4-3 vote, the NTTA board agreed to bid. Collin County wanted the NTTA to build and operate SH 121 and Denton County wanted a private company approved through a Comprehensive Development Agreement, NTTA chair Dave Blair said when the board approved its bid.
In other matters, Plano council members had a lively debate before tabling proposed changes to allow open house signs temporarily. Councilman Shep Stahel wanted to draft an ordinance that clearly states the rules applied to open house signs, not all real estate signs.
“We should make the rules workable rather than narrow,” said Councilman Harry LaRosiliere. “If we tighten them, it could be a burden on our inspectors.”
Plano’s city attorney will draft a definition of open house signs for the council’s next debate.
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 Tuesday, June 13, 2006
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