TxDOT to replace FM 455 bridges for $2.5 million

TxDOT - June 2, 2006

Work to replace two bridges on FM 455 at Little Elm Creek began today in Collin County. Located west of Celina, the bridge replacement project costs more than $2.5 million. "The two bridges at this location are functionally obsolete and are being replaced with new bridges that meet current standards," said Kelly Selman, P.E., the area engineer of the Collin County Area Office.

Approximately 154 working days will be committed to this project. Commercial Contractors Equipment, Inc., of Lincoln, Neb., serves as the contractor of this job.

Work on FM 455 is scheduled to complete in January 2007.
NEWS RELEASE

TxDOT Presents Conceptual Toll Plan for SH 121 through Collin County

TxDOT - July 18, 2006

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is presenting an opportunity for public input on the Conceptual Toll Plan for SH 121 from the Dallas North Tollway (DNT) to US 75 at a public meeting on Tuesday, July 25, at the Plano Centre, located at 2000 E. Spring Creek Parkway in Plano. This public meeting will be held in an open house format from 4 to 8 p.m. with no formal presentation.

During the meeting, TxDOT officials will be available to discuss the proposed tolling of SH 121 within the 13-mile corridor that passes through the cities of Plano, Frisco, Allen and McKinney and the town of Fairview. The SH 121 main lanes through the corridor are in various stages of construction.

There are no proposed changes to the locations or sizes of the previously designed ramps and main lanes. The proposed tolling would not require additional right of way, displacements or relocations. The re-evaluation of the previously approved environmental documents will research and identify potential changes to the natural, social and economic environment that could occur as a result of tolling SH 121.

Informational handouts will be available at various stations at the meeting as well as a display of a video simulation of the new toll road. The Conceptual Toll Plan schematic, project timeline, location map and a toll gantry map for the project will be on display at the meeting.

Schematics are available for viewing and copying at the Dallas District Office, located at 4777 E. Hwy. 80 in Mesquite, and at the Dallas County Transportation and Planning Division, Dallas County Public Works Administration Building, 411 Elm St., 4th Floor, in Dallas. The schematic drawings can also be viewed online.

The Denton County section of the SH 121 corridor opened as a toll road in Lewisville and Coppell on July 6 and 7. Tolls are being waived as a trial offer to the public until Sept. 1. For more information, visit our SH 121 Toll Road Web site.
NEWS RELEASE

FHWA grants environmental clearance for projects in the Dallas area

TxDOT - May 8, 2006

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently announced its finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for several projects in the Dallas area. Based on federal regulations, a FONSI is granted when a potential project will not have any significant impact on the human environment.

Receiving approval from the FHWA allows the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to proceed with projects on I-35E in Denton County, SH 121 and US 75 in Collin County and FM 982 in Collin County.

Located between FM 2181 and US 380, I-35E will widen from four mainlanes and a two-lane frontage road to eight mainlanes and three-lane frontage roads in each direction. The 11-mile project allows for a future reversible managed HOV lane in the median. The cost of the project is more than $357 million.

Located in McKinney, Allen and Fairview, the SH 121 project includes reconstructing an interchange at SH 121 and US 75. The location of the proposed interchange is SH 121 from Hardin Boulevard to SH 5 and US 75 from Ridgeview Road and Eldorado Parkway. The cost of the proposed project is approximately $102 million.

Proposed construction for FM 982 is located between US 380 and FM 546. The 5.4-mile project includes adding shoulders to the existing two-lane highway. The cost of the project is an estimated $15 million.
NEWS RELEASE

FHWA grants environmental clearance for projects in the Dallas area

TxDOT - May 8, 2006

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently announced its finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for several projects in the Dallas area. Based on federal regulations, a FONSI is granted when a potential project will not have any significant impact on the human environment.

Receiving approval from the FHWA allows the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to proceed with projects on I-35E in Denton County, SH 121 and US 75 in Collin County and FM 982 in Collin County.

Located between FM 2181 and US 380, I-35E will widen from four mainlanes and a two-lane frontage road to eight mainlanes and three-lane frontage roads in each direction. The 11-mile project allows for a future reversible managed HOV lane in the median. The cost of the project is more than $357 million.

Located in McKinney, Allen and Fairview, the SH 121 project includes reconstructing an interchange at SH 121 and US 75. The location of the proposed interchange is SH 121 from Hardin Boulevard to SH 5 and US 75 from Ridgeview Road and Eldorado Parkway. The cost of the proposed project is approximately $102 million.

Proposed construction for FM 982 is located between US 380 and FM 546. The 5.4-mile project includes adding shoulders to the existing two-lane highway. The cost of the project is an estimated $15 million.
NEWS RELEASE

SH 121 Opens to Motorists in Denton County

Tolled road first of its kind in Texas
Tx DOT - July 3, 2006
The wait is over for Dallas-Fort Worth motorists traveling through Denton County on SH 121. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will officially open the SH 121 Corridor as a toll road on Thursday, July 6, and Friday, July 7, in Lewisville and Coppell. Tolls will be waived as a trial offer to the public until Sept. 1, 2006.

SH 121 is the first toll road in Texas to open under Governor Rick Perry’s HB 3588 legislation, which authorizes the financing of roadways with toll revenue.

“We are very excited to open this project,” said Claud Elsom, P.E., area engineer of the Denton County Area Office. “Our traveling public has been anxious to use this road, and we are glad to have opened the roadway ahead of schedule.”
NEWS RELEASE

Sections that will open to motorists include SH 121 from north of Denton Creek to east of I-35E and SH 121 from west of Hebron Pkwy (FM 544) to east of FM 2281 (Old Denton Road). The six-mile toll road was built for more than $117 million. Contractors who worked on the projects include Balfour Beatty Construction, Inc., and Mario Sincola and Sons, Excavation.
During the trial run of the opening, crews will continue to finish miscellaneous work on SH 121. Minor work will include pavement markings, placing additional signage and installing toll equipment on the roadway. Promotional billboards also will be placed adjacent to the new toll road.

Motorists traveling on SH 121 after the trial period will be charged electronically on their respective TxTag® stickers, the North Texas Tollway Authority’s TollTag or the Harris County Toll Road Authority’s EZ TAG. Drivers without an electronic toll tag can still use SH 121, however the toll rate is a little more and there is a $1 statement fee.

TxTag® stickers can be purchased online or by calling 1-888-GoTxTag (888) 468-9824.

Striping work on SH 121 will need to be done in order to open the roadway Elsom said. However, if there is inclement weather, he said striping work will not take place. In this event, the opening of SH 121 will be rescheduled.

SH 114 Improvements Cleared Environmentally

TxDOT - June 7, 2007

Planned improvements to State Highway 114 (SH 114) from 0.22 miles west of County Line Road to 0.45 miles west of FM 156, in the city of Fort Worth, has received environmental clearance from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

The clearance allows the state to advance the project into final engineering and to begin property acquisition negotiations which would offer motorists a vital transportation improvement to a congested roadway in Denton County.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) obtained a “Finding of No Significant Impact” (FONSI) from the FHWA on May 24, 2007.

The approved FONSI was based on an Environmental Assessment submitted by TxDOT that was independently evaluated by the FHWA and determined to “adequately and accurately discuss the environmental issues and impacts of the proposed project.’’

“This is a major milestone in the development of this roadway,’’ said William L. Hale, TxDOT’s Dallas District Engineer. “We now look forward to finalizing negotiations with our local partners to make this project a reality.”

SH 114 is proposed to be widened from a two-lane, undivided rural road to a four-lane, divided facility that follows the existing alignment.

Additional improvements would include the construction of two bridges and nine drainage culverts for an overall estimated cost of more than $30 million.

The project is 4.56 miles long and is tentatively scheduled for construction in 2009.
NEWS RELEASE

I-30 in Grand Pairie to Close for Bridge work at NW 19th Street

TxDOT - June 12, 2007

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will close eastbound and westbound Interstate 30 (I-30) at NW 19th Street in Grand Prairie to allow for the setting of precast concrete panels on the bridge beams.

I-30 at NW 19th Street will close from 8 p.m. Saturday, June 16, to 6 a.m. Sunday, June 17. Precast concrete panels will be set on the southbound frontage road of State Highway 161 (SH 161) underpass during this time. Traffic will be reduced to one lane and directed onto the overpass ramps at NW 19th Street to allow motorists to bypass the construction.

“This work is important because it provides for the placement of concrete pavement on the bridge and will ultimately lead to opening the bridge to traffic,” said Tony Payberah, assistant area engineer for the Southwest Dallas Area Office.
NEWS RELEASE
Message boards announcing the roadway closure have been placed in both directions along I-30 to notify the public of the scheduled closures. Law enforcement will also be present to help with traffic control.

This construction work is part of phase one of a $28 million project to construct a five-level interchange at I-30 and SH 161, which has a tentative completion date of March 2008. The contractor for this project is Texas Sterling Construction, L.P, of Grand Prairie.

The work will take place weather permitting.

TxDOT Public Hearing for Lake Ridge Parkway July 10

TxDOT - June 12, 2007

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will conduct a public hearing on the proposed widening and extension of Lake Ridge Pkwy. from south of Great Southwest Pkwy./High Hawk Blvd. to Interstate 20 (I-20) on Tuesday, July 10, at West Elementary School, located at 2911 Kingswood Blvd. in Grand Prairie. The hearing will begin with an open house at 6 p.m. followed by a presentation at 7 p.m. A public comment session will be held after the presentation.

During the event, TxDOT representatives will discuss the widening of Lake Ridge Pkwy. in Dallas and Tarrant Counties for a distance of approximately 2 miles, to enhance the regional transportation system by improving mobility and the connectivity with roadways in the southern Dallas-Fort Worth Region.

Proposed enhancements to the project would widen Lake Ridge Pkwy’s existing four-lane, divided urban roadway to a six-lane, divided curb and gutter roadway with left-turn lanes at selected intersections. Also, it is being proposed to extend Lake Ridge Pkwy. from north of Polo Road to the south frontage road of I-20, adding approximately 25.1 acres of additional right-of-way.

The environmental document, maps, drawings and other project information will be on display at the hearing. This and other information are available for viewing and copying at the TxDOT Southwest Dallas County Area Office, located at 1424 High Meadows Way in Cedar Hill, and at the TxDOT Dallas District Office, located at 4777 East Highway 80 in Mesquite.

Information concerning the Relocation and Assistance Program, as well as, services and benefits available to displacees can be obtained from either of the TxDOT offices.

Feds Approve Three Projects in Denton and Collin Counties

FMTxDOT - June 12, 2007


The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently announced its finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for roadway projects on FM 407, FM 2934 and FM 2478 (Custer Road) in Denton and Collin Counties.

Based on federal regulations, a FONSI is granted when a potential project will not have any significant impact on the human or natural environment.

Receiving approval from the FHWA allows the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to proceed with projects on FM 407 in Denton County from west of Briarhill Boulevard to the intersection of FM 407 and FM 1830; FM 2934 in Denton County from FM 423 to the Dallas Parkway; and FM 2478 in Collin County from Stonebridge Drive to US 380.

Plans for FM 407 include converting the existing two-lane, undivided, rural roadway into a four-lane, divided, urban roadway with curb and gutter. Left-turn lanes would be placed at various intersections along the project. The six-mile project is an estimated $36.7 million and could begin later this summer.

Work on FM 2934 will consist of widening the existing roadway to a six-lane urban thoroughfare with curb and gutter, and an enclosed storm drain system. Turn lanes would also be added at selected intersections. The 2.7 mile project is more than $18 million. Construction is also tentatively scheduled for later this summer.

Finally, the Custer Road project will include reconstructing the existing roadway as a four-lane curb and gutter, divided roadway. Other proposed work includes raising the median for future expansion to a six-lane divided facility. The 3.4 mile project costs an estimated $18.8 million. The start date for this project is subject to available funding
NEWS RELEASE

The Texas Transportation Commisson will rule on accepting or rejecting the RTC's choice of NTTA for SH121

Citizens and delegations wishing to address the Texas Transporation Commission regarding selection of NTTA for SH121 will have to request a waiver of the 90 requirement to be put on the agenda. They may not waive the time frame. There is a comment session at the end of the meeting and persons present can register to speak a the hearing. However, they will proabably have already ruled on accepting or rejecting the RTC selecion of NTTA for SH121.

HERE ARE THE STATEMENTS REGARDING PUBLIC ACCESS AND COMMENTS AT THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MEETINGS:

Public Access to the Texas Transportation Commission

Local citizens and interest groups can form delegations and make presentations before the commission at their monthly meetings. Individual citizens also have the opportunity to express their concerns about any item posted on the agenda, or any issue that falls under the commission’s jurisdiction. To learn more about delegations or how to be added to the commission’s meeting agenda, please visit the Texas Administrative Code Web site and click on §1.4.
If you are unable to attend commission meetings, you may write a letter to the commission at 125 East 11th Street, Austin, Texas 78701-2483

.

(d) Delegations.

(1) Petition. A delegation consisting of the representatives of one or more local governments or of an organization of two or more persons may petition the department to appear before the commission to seek commission action on a maximum of three specific transportation projects, or on the general transportation needs for a specific geographical area.

(2) Content of petition. A petition filed under this subsection must be in writing, directed to the department's district office of the district in which the project is located, and must be received by the chief executive officer in charge of the district (district engineer) no less than 90 days prior to the date of the requested appearance. The petition must include:

(A) the name and address of the petitioner;

(B) a statement that the petitioner desires to appear on the petitioner's own behalf or as the representative of a named organization or local government;

(C) a clear and concise statement of the subject of the proposed presentation;

(D) a brief summary of the action sought;

(E) a brief description of known or potential adverse impacts on the environment;

(F) the name and address of each opponent, if any, to the proposed action or relief sought; and

(G) a statement of the applicable metropolitan planning organization's position and endorsement, if any, of the project or projects.

(3) Highway projects. A delegation requesting action on a highway project must submit with the petition a letter containing:

(A) project limits;

(B) an estimate of the cost of the project;

(C) a description of the existing facility (if any);

(D) a description of the requested improvement;

(E) proposed local government participation (city, county) for:

(i) right-of-way;

(ii) utility adjustments;

(iii) environmental mitigation;

(iv) construction; and

(v) other project components; and

(F) any proposed participation in the project by other public or private entities.

(4) District review. The district will review the petition and advise the delegation if any additional information is necessary. The district will submit to the executive director the petition followed by a report containing background information, the district's analysis, and district recommendations.

(5) Opposition. The department will notify any opponents identified in a petition filed under this subsection or who may be otherwise known to the department. An opponent will be afforded an opportunity to appear before the commission as provided in paragraph (6)(A) of this subsection

.

(6) Presentation.

(A) Except as provided in subsection (h)(6) of this section, a delegation will be allowed to speak for a maximum of 20 minutes on a maximum of three projects prioritized by the delegation or on the general transportation needs for a specific geographical area, and opponents will be allowed to follow the presentation of the delegation with a presentation not to exceed a total of 20 minutes.

(B) Other than elected public officials, no more than three persons may speak for a delegation.

(e) Open comment period.

(1) At the conclusion of the posted agenda of each regular business meeting the commission will allow an open comment period, not to exceed one hour, to receive public comment on any other matter that is under the jurisdiction of the commission.

(2) A person desiring to appear under this subsection must complete a registration form, as provided by the department, prior to the beginning of the open comment period.

(3) Except as provided in subsection (h)(6) of this section, each person will be allowed to speak for a maximum of three minutes for each presentation in the order in which he or she registered.

(f) Disability accommodation. Persons with disabilities who have special communication or accommodation needs and who plan to attend a meeting may contact the office of the secretary to the commission in Austin. Requests should be made at least two days before a meeting. The department will make every reasonable effort to accommodate these needs.

(g) Notice. For each commission meeting an agenda will be filed with the Texas Register in accordance with the requirements of the Open Meetings Act, Government Code, Chapter 551.

(h) Conduct and decorum. The commission will receive public input as authorized by this section, subject to the following guidelines.

(1) Questioning of those making presentations will be reserved to commissioners and the department's administrative staff.

(2) Organizations, associations, or groups are encouraged to present their commonly held views, and same or similar comments, through a representative member where possible.

(3) Presentations shall remain pertinent to the issue being discussed.

(4) A person who disrupts a meeting must leave the meeting room if ordered to do so by the chair.

(5) Time allotted to one speaker may not be reassigned to another speaker.

(6) The time allotted for presentations or comments under this section may be increased or further limited by the chair, or, in the chair's absence, the acting chair, as may be appropriate to assure opportunity for the maximum number of persons to appear.

(i) Waiver. Subject to the approval of the chair, a requirement of this section may be waived in the public interest if necessary for the performance of the responsibilities of the commission or the department.

Full text of Commission Policy

Meetings are usually held at the DeWitt C. Greer building in Austin, located at 125 East 11th Street. To make it easier for citizens throughout Texas to participate in the transportation planning process, the commission schedules 3-4 meetings a year at locations around the state.

The Texas Transportation Commission Website states:
Q.How can I make a presentation to the Commission?

A step-by-step process must be followed before a delegation appears before the commission. The following steps require at least three months of preparation:

A delegation or group interested in appearing before the commission should contact their local TxDOT district office. The district can provide information regarding petition content and a copy of Title 43, TAC, §1.4(d) to the delegation.
No less than 90 days prior to the requested appearance date, the delegation submits a petition to the district engineer in the district where the request(s) is located.
Within 7 days after receipt of the petition, the district reviews the petition using the petition requirements checklist and advises the delegation if further information is needed or if the subject of the request does not fall under commission jurisdiction.
No less than 80 days prior to the requested appearance date, the district mails or faxes the petition to the executive director. Note: The district must include the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of any opponents which are not included in the petition, but are known to the district.
After receipt of the petition, the deputy executive director’s office notifies opponents of the delegation and asks if they want to appear before the commission.
No less than 70 days prior to the requested appearance date, the deputy executive director’s office considers the delegation for scheduling and notifies the delegation and opposition, if any, of the scheduling decision by letter.
No less than 35 days prior to the requested appearance date, the district prepares and submits a delegation report packet to deputy executive director.
No less than 10 days prior to the scheduled appearance date, the deputy executive director’s office prepares an executive summary using the delegation report and other pertinent information and submits this executive summary to the district for approval.
No less than 7 days prior to the scheduled appearance date, the deputy executive director’s office distributes copies of the executive summary, in its final form, to the commission, the governor, and appropriate TxDOT administration. (The district delegation report is made available upon request).
On the scheduled appearance date, the scheduled delegation and opponents appear before the Texas Transportation Commission.
Approximately 60 to 90 days after the delegation appearance, the deputy executive director’s office responds by letter to the delegation’s request(s).

DFW REGIONAL CONCERNED CITIZENS TO BEGIN REVIEW OF COMPLIANCE WITH LOCAL GOVT. CODE CHAPTER176 AND ASSESMENT OF PUBLISHED ETHICS POLICIES

By Faith Chatham
DFW REGIONAL CONCERNED CITIZENS believes that ethics and transparency in government is vital for public confidence.

We especially applaud governments who have clearly defined ethics rules and endeavor to achieve full complaince by officials, staff and advisors of their organization and full disclosure by vendors and those seeking to do business with their governmental entity.

We are noticing an uneven application of some key Texas Local Governments ethics rules between governments and political subdivisions in this 16 country region. For several months we have been engaging informally in discussions with various city, county and regional officials about public disclosure and ethics.

We hope that all governmental entities will come into full compliance with Texas Local Government Code 176.

Some governments wrote their ethics rules prior to the 78th and 80th Legislative Session of the Texas Legislature when Chapter 176 was established and amended. We recommend that all governments and political subdivision review the exisiting wording in their ethics codes and bring them into conformity with Chapter 176 of the Local Government Code. In the Side Bar of this site, we have links to the Texas Ethics Boards discussion of Chapter 176 and the disclosure forms, the two house bills which enacted the rules, and the Attorney General's opinion on the application of Chapter 176. We hope these resources will help governments assess these rules and evaluate whether they are in compliance with the regulations.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
Chapter 176 applies a broader definition of conflict of interest than the 10% financial interest rule in Chapter 171. Chapter 176 requires decision makers and potential vendors to disclose relationship. Elected officals and their advisors who serve on boards, even if unpaid, must disclose relationships with potential bidders or vendors. The disclosure forms are to be submitted within 7 days of the discovery of a potential bid or intention to pursue business with the government or political subdivision.... These disclosure forms are to be made available to the public. If the governmental entity maintains a website, they are to be posted on the website for the public to examine. The law establishing Chapter 176 clearly states that the intent of the law is to inform the public of the relationships between governmental decision makers and those who contract with or seek to do business with the governmental entity.

We have begun an informal survey of the ethics rules posted on governmental websites in the 16 county NCTCOG region. We are discovering that some bodies approach ethics with a "broad stroke" while others clearly define and spell out the rules. There appears to be a wide gap between those who attempt to educate and enforce ethics rules, especially compliance with Chapter 176, and those who seem to pay less attention to complying with these laws.

We will begin an informal assessment of the ethics rules as posted on governmental websites. We will assess them for content and clarity of the ethics codes in their published policy and for evidence of compliance with Chapter 176 on their websites.
We will publish the degree of compliance and clarity of the published codes on our website. When notified of changes, we will gladly go back and reassess those entities and and publish updates to our assessment.

We do not claim to be experts in ethics or lawyers. We are a citizens group and will view the codes and compliance as citizens. Our goal is to be able to show appreciation to those governments which are leaders in applying high ethical standards to the people's business, and to enable other governments to know that there are examples of excellence in our region. Hopefully, those with identified deficiencies will find other nearby neighbors who they can use as models to inspire and assist them in achieving greater transparency and compliance.

In addition to examining website for ethics, we will also look for ways the government makes it easier for citizens to participate in the process and to be informed in a timely manner of important issues.

A cliff hanger in DFW -- suspense, intrigue, deceit and a final vote for the hometown guys on SH121

By Faith Chatham - Wed Jun 20, 2007

The NCTCOG SH 121 workshop on Thursday and the RTC meeting Monday were long and tense. The Monday meeting to vote on awarding the Contract on SH121 ran over two hours longer than orginally scheduled. Until the last 15 or 20 minutes of the meeting, I felt that the vote would probably go to Cintra. During both days, I never heard aggressive or hostile questioning of Cintra, but many members of the RTC questioned (and/or preached) to NTTA so aggressively that it seemed hostile.

Read blow by blow analysis of the the vote to let SH 121.

TxDOT say they wrote critique of NTTA bid for SH121, KPMG-GS just reviewing it

TollROADSnews - May 11, 2007

James Bass, chief financial officer of Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) says we erred in attributing a two-page critique of the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) to KPMG/Goldman Sachs. He says it was written by TxDOT Dallas staff. TxDOT asked both KPMG and Goldman Sachs to review it and comment.

But he says this became moot once NTTA released their executive summary of their proposal.

Here is the email, we received:

For the avoidance of any doubt, neither KPMG nor Goldman Sachs authored the two page paper that is referenced by your article posted at The paper in question was authored by TxDOT Dallas District staff.

Last Friday TxDOT requested that both KPMG and Goldman Sachs review the paper and provide their commentary, but as the NTTA released the Executive Summary for their proposal on SH 121 on Monday the review of the paper in question became moot and is no longer required.

Thanks,
James M. Bass
Chief Financial Officer
Texas Department of Transportation (end email text)

We had it on what seemed very good authority it was written by KPMG and GS.

The paper does not have any identifying letterhead or signature

See Brett Shipp report, (WFAA NEWS, Monday, May 14, 2007) -- TxDOT Dallas District official (and RTC member) Robert Brown wrote the memo published as an analysis falsely attributed as being prepared by investment banker Goldman Sachs. The question was raised about excluding TxDOT from voting due to their being "tainted" with authoring a controversial memo which was published falsely attributed as an analysis by investment firm Goldman Sach. GS denied the memo and investigative reporter Brett Shipps discovered that the memo origniated in the Dallas District of TxDOT. NTTA presented numerous reports from bonding companies refuting the assertions in the memo that NTTA would be bankrupted if they won the SH121 bid.

NTTA gets OK for 121 toll project

By MICHAEL A. LINDENBERGER and JAKE BATSELL - The Dallas Morning News - Monday, June 18, 2007

Local elected officials have endorsed the North Texas Tollway Authority to build the controversial State Highway 121 toll project.

The 27-10 vote Monday by the Regional Transportation Council sets the stage for a showdown in Austin at the Texas Transportation Commission, which is expected to make a final decision June 28. While the commission has previously said it will place great emphasis on the council’s vote, it is not bound to do so, TxDOT spokesman Randall Dillard said.

The recommendation that NTTA win the contract runs counter to the strong preference for the rival bidder, the private Spanish construction firm Cintra, previously expressed by the Texas Department of Transportation, Gov. Rick Perry’s administration, and the executive staff of the Regional Transportation Council alike. Cintra’s involvement was billed by TxDOT and others as a way to expand the total amount of money available for the building North Texas roads in the future.

Council members appear to have been convinced that endorsing a local entity, with a long history of building and operating toll roads in North Texas, was preferable to awarding the contract to a private company based in Spain that builds toll roads across the world, but which has limited experienced in Texas.

“What it really boils down to is whether the dollars that are made here stay here in Texas, or if they are going to fly off [as corporate profits] to Delaware, or wherever they go,” said Dallas City Council member Bill Blaydes.

Read more

Citizen's observations of Thursday June 14 RTC meeting and presentations by NTTA and CINTRA

Lauri Wiss of Dallas submitted these comments to the NCTCOG RTC by e-mail following her attendence at the May 14th RTC "Workshop on SH121"

I attended the June 14 RTC Public Meeting.
I heard no mention of either the NTAA nor Cintra bid presentation regading repaying the taxpayers of the DFW region for money already expended for the SH 121 right of way.

I also heard no mention if the NTCOG or RTC will need to repay those funds to other entities.
I was shocked ethics and conflict of interests were not addressed in a knowledgeable way. · It seemed amazing that legal opinion is needed less than 4 days before a major decision is made for the region.

· Being a member of the NASCO or NTAA Board to me means a member should recluse themselves in the vote.

· I do not believe a vote should be taken prior to all 40 members filling out the necessary ethic and conflict of interest forms and putting them on the internet.

· The City Councils and the public have the right to know what Boards and Commissions a member holds office in or serves on the Board of Directors, what businesses they and their family own, as well as stocks relating to contracts let out for bid.

I was also amazed at the deceit in the numbers in the Cintra slide presentation.

· The answers to the questions asked and answered by both Cintra and Price Waterhouse should have been reflected in the slide presentation.

· Phony numbers are not something to rely on.
· If the numbers presented at this late date cannot be counted on, why should any future numbers be trusted?

· In the Cintra presentation, interoperability (a pass through) was presented as income.

· Federal taxes were presented in the slideshow as income, and the mysterious 20-30 billion dollar "future development" is not a tangible return, especially when Mr. Munos DID NOT AGREE to commit to future projects.
The PriceWaterHouseCooper speaker when asked about it by a Board member said "it is a wash" between the two bidders.
· Most importantly, the multiplier rate stated ($ 1:3) was not backed up with facts.
· This is especially true as most multiplier effects depend on the money remaining in the local economy .
· With the money simply collected then sent to other US states and overseas, the multiplier effect lessens because loan funds are not as available.

· The number of jobs provided was not broken out on whether the jobs would be spread over the lifetime of the contract or in the immediate future.


The NTAA presentation was short on substance. There was nothing that was said that seemed firm enough to make a decision on. I recognize that they did not have a lot of time to prepare, but their statement "that we will not seek federal funds today" reminded me of the Dart pledge

· I am concerned about the raising of tolls on other roadways and possible lessening of maintenance to build SH 121.

· I am concerned on whether the NTAA is using the highest construction standards, not the lowest.

· I liked the NTAA bid better because local accountability will be possible, there will be federal laws followed, and the books will be audited every three months.

I have the following questions:

· Will the NTAA bid lower the rate of toll increases or
will the the same .145 to 58 be in place?

· Why would a business move to Dallas or Tarrant County if businesses and employees will have to devote a significant portion of transportation dollars to toll costs?
Is there a commitment in the contract that a certain percentage of the money remain in the banks locally for loans?