"Provocative actions by both agencies had increased tension in recent months."
Tollway authority votes to settle feud
Deal with state details which agency builds, operates planned roads
August 11, 2006
By TONY HARTZEL
The Dallas Morning News
Copyright 2006
PLANO – An agreement designed to end feuding between North Texas' two majorroad-building agencies got its first official endorsement Thursday.
The North Texas Tollway Authority board of directors voted unanimously to approve an agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation. The deal specifies which agency will build and operate several planned toll roads. It also specifies that the tollway authority will get contracts to collect tolls on every planned toll road.
"We truly are entering a new era and a new way of doing business and a new era of trust," tollway authority board member Kay Walls said.
The Texas Transportation Commission is expected to ratify the deal at its Aug. 24 meeting in Austin.
The commission is a policymaking body that oversees the Transportation Department.
Provocative actions by both agencies had increased tension in recent months, leading to occasionally difficult negotiations – and a few threats – before the deal was reached.
The tension centered on toll roads and control of their potential revenue.
Several months ago, the tollway authority vowed to work with a private company to submit a bid for the toll road rights to State Highway 121 in Collin and Denton counties and the State Highway 161 project in southwest Dallas County. That irked state officials, who already had a short list of four private companies vying for the Highway 121 project.
The state responded with its own threat. For years, the Transportation Department had allowed the tollway authority to control planning and construction of the Southwest Parkway in Fort Worth and the Bush Turnpike's eastern extension through Garland, Sachse and Rowlett.
Then, in July, the state shocked the tollway authority by taking a step toward reclaiming those projects.
The new agreement won't have much impact on motorists' wallets. Toll rates would be about the same no matter which agency operates the roads. But the agreement should smooth the way for quicker completion of road construction and, therefore, fewer traffic snarls.
Without a working agreement, the Transportation Department and the tollway authority were facing potential construction delays of at least a year on some projects.
So both sides took a step back and focused on the agreement approved Thursday.
The main points call for the tollway authority to abandon its plan to bid on the Highway 121 and Highway 161 projects. In turn, the state will abandon efforts to reclaim the Southwest Parkway and Bush Turnpike eastern extension.
In addition, the agreement calls for the tollway authority to collect tolls on every North Texas toll road. For roads built by private companies, the tollway authority will have a five-year toll collection contract, which could be renewed. The tollway authority also is expected to have a larger role in planning and developing toll roads.
"I believe this is a beginning. It's a way to move forward and build trust," said Bill Hale, Dallas district engineer for the Transportation Department.
Although the proposal received unanimous support, board members Dave Denison and Paul Wageman said they were concerned that the agreement had no penalties or other ways to ensure compliance.
"A lot of people are watching what we say we're going to do," tollway board vice chairman Jack Miller said.
E-mail thartzel@dallasnews.com
© 2006 The Dallas Morning News Co www.dallasnews.com
Deal with state details which agency builds, operates planned roads
August 11, 2006
By TONY HARTZEL
The Dallas Morning News
Copyright 2006
PLANO – An agreement designed to end feuding between North Texas' two majorroad-building agencies got its first official endorsement Thursday.
The North Texas Tollway Authority board of directors voted unanimously to approve an agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation. The deal specifies which agency will build and operate several planned toll roads. It also specifies that the tollway authority will get contracts to collect tolls on every planned toll road.
"We truly are entering a new era and a new way of doing business and a new era of trust," tollway authority board member Kay Walls said.
The Texas Transportation Commission is expected to ratify the deal at its Aug. 24 meeting in Austin.
The commission is a policymaking body that oversees the Transportation Department.
Provocative actions by both agencies had increased tension in recent months, leading to occasionally difficult negotiations – and a few threats – before the deal was reached.
The tension centered on toll roads and control of their potential revenue.
Several months ago, the tollway authority vowed to work with a private company to submit a bid for the toll road rights to State Highway 121 in Collin and Denton counties and the State Highway 161 project in southwest Dallas County. That irked state officials, who already had a short list of four private companies vying for the Highway 121 project.
The state responded with its own threat. For years, the Transportation Department had allowed the tollway authority to control planning and construction of the Southwest Parkway in Fort Worth and the Bush Turnpike's eastern extension through Garland, Sachse and Rowlett.
Then, in July, the state shocked the tollway authority by taking a step toward reclaiming those projects.
The new agreement won't have much impact on motorists' wallets. Toll rates would be about the same no matter which agency operates the roads. But the agreement should smooth the way for quicker completion of road construction and, therefore, fewer traffic snarls.
Without a working agreement, the Transportation Department and the tollway authority were facing potential construction delays of at least a year on some projects.
So both sides took a step back and focused on the agreement approved Thursday.
The main points call for the tollway authority to abandon its plan to bid on the Highway 121 and Highway 161 projects. In turn, the state will abandon efforts to reclaim the Southwest Parkway and Bush Turnpike eastern extension.
In addition, the agreement calls for the tollway authority to collect tolls on every North Texas toll road. For roads built by private companies, the tollway authority will have a five-year toll collection contract, which could be renewed. The tollway authority also is expected to have a larger role in planning and developing toll roads.
"I believe this is a beginning. It's a way to move forward and build trust," said Bill Hale, Dallas district engineer for the Transportation Department.
Although the proposal received unanimous support, board members Dave Denison and Paul Wageman said they were concerned that the agreement had no penalties or other ways to ensure compliance.
"A lot of people are watching what we say we're going to do," tollway board vice chairman Jack Miller said.
E-mail thartzel@dallasnews.com
© 2006 The Dallas Morning News Co
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Friday, August 11, 2006
<< Home