HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7141 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7141
�a4 soar�p� To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 5, 1986
ss�s
Xq. Subject:
*} STATUS REPORT ON THE SOUTHWEST FREEWAY PROJECT (S.H. 121)
1. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT f
The Southwest Freeway, which will be an access-controlled facility on new
alignment, will extend S.N. 121 (Airport Freeway) from its present terminus
at I-35 W. southwesterly around the north and west sides of the Fort Worth
Central Business District, across S.H. 199 (Jacksboro Highway) , continuing
southerly across I-30, then southerwesterly across Hulen Street, and then
southerly across S.H. 183 and I-30 (Loop 820), continuing southerly across
projected westerly extensions of Alta Mesa, Sycamore School Road, Risinger
Road, and McPherson Road, and connecting with F.M. 1902 at its intersection
with F.M. 1187.
The project, as planned will be developed with primary freeway lanes
traversing the 17.3 mile route. Three (3) lanes of frontage roads will be
constructed on each sides of the primary freeway lanes along the route from
Hulen Street south to F.M. 1187.
The total projected cost (1985-Dollars) for the project is $470,522,000. as
follows:
Construction _
Main Lanes (State) $290,038,000
Frontage Roads (local) 15,786,000
Right-Of-Way
Dedicated (Public and private) $ 73,557,000
Purchased (State and local) 91,141,000
II. CURRENT STATUS OF PROJECT
The State Department of Highways and Public Transportation (Highway
Department) has until recently, had five classifications for project
approval and development, ranging from "One Year Letting Schedule" to
"Twenty Year Program Schedule". The Southwest Freeway project has been
included in a recently added classification, the "Special Twenty Year
Program Schedule". This category was added to accept and acknowledge
projects with special local interest and local participation. Projects in
this category may be moved to any of the other classifications at any time
at the discretion of the State Highway and Public Transportation Commission
(Highway Commission).
ISSUED BY THE CiTY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS -
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS NO. 7141-P.2
,0To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 5, 1986
4,x P,�)o Subject: STATUS REPORT ON THE SOUTHWEST FREEWAY PROJECT (S.H. 121)
The Southwest Freeway (S.H. 121) is in the "Special Twenty Year Program
Schedule" at this time. As such, the Commission, at its February, 1986
Meeting authorized the Department to hire a consultant to prepare
. preliminary designs, conduct environmental ' studies and hearings, obtain
environmental approval for the alignment selected and to prepare right-of-
way maps. The Highway Department Staff has now selected the consulting
firm of Turner, Collie and Braden and is presently negotiating the
specifics of the contract.
By Minute Orders No. 83516 on August 29, 1985 and Minute Order No. 84185 on
March 31, 1986 the Highway Commission cancelled the project's original
alignment through the City' s Cultural District and authorized the
Department to proceed with the new alignment located east of the Trinity
River along Forrest Park Boulevard. Certain conditions stipulated by the
Commission in Minute Order No. 83516 have now been accepted by both the
City Council and the Tarrant County Commissioner's Court (M&C G-6454 on
October 8, 1985 and Commissioner's Court Resolution dated November 25,
1985) . The conditions requiring local acceptance related to: (a)
furnishing necessary R.O.W. from Hulen Street south to F.M. 1187; (b)
donation of required R.O.W. owned by the City; (c) secure all necessary
R.O.W. and adjust utilities from Hulen Street, northeast to I-35W. ; (d)
provide for construction of frontage roads from Hulen Street south to F.M.
1187; and, (e) secure authority to obtain certain quantities of earth
construction material at no cost to the State.
With the acceptance of the above cited specific conditions by the City and
Tarrant County, the Highway Department was authorized and directed by the
Commission to: (a) proceed with actions stated above relative to hiring a
consultant, etc.; (b) provide relocation assistance as may be required; (c)
provide for the construction of main lanes, necessary frontage roads and
interchanges between I-35W. and Hulen Street, and construction of main
lanes from Hulen Street to F.M. 1187, "all as required by traffic and as
funds become available"; and, (d) maintain the facility upon completion of
construction.
In chronological sequence: (a) the City Council on February 25, 1986
(Council Resolution No. 1125) adopted a "preferred westerly alignment" of
the route between McPherson Road and F.M. 1187; (b) authorized the City's
Transportation and Public Works Department to stake the center line of the
adopted alignment from Hulen Street to F.M. 1187, and (c) required that,
"as platting occurs along the route of the Southwest Freeway, property
owners must dedicate appropriate rights-of-way and enter into Community
Facilities Agreements for construction of the frontage roads."
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No.
�•"" August 5, 1986
UP80 iORT To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
1871) Subject: STATUS REPORT ON THE SOUTHWEST FREEWAY PROJECT (S.H. 121)
�n
On March 31, 1986, the State Highway Commission (Minute Order No. 84185)
approved the "preferred southern alignment" between McPherson Road and F.M.
1187, as recommended by the City of Fort Worth, Tarrant and Johnson
Counties, and the cities of Burleson and Cleburne "subject to the
completion of staff studies, environmental reports and the public hearing
process."
III. STATUS OF RIGHT-OF-WAY REQUIREMENTS
The City and/or the County will provide the right-of-way from Hulen Street
to F.M. 1187 by dedication or by purchase with local funds. This is in
response to the Highway Commission 's policy as announced in its public
hearing on February 15, 1984. This policy applies to all highway
construction through undeveloped areas. Based on this policy the City has
asked for the dedication of a ±400 foot wide right-of-way from owners of
property that the freeway will pass through. To date no dedication of
property has been completed in the section between Hulen Street and
McPherson Road. A majority of the owners of property in this section have
agreed to dedicate the necessary right-of-way at the time that they final
plat the adjacent property. The City Planning Commission has now noted
this as a condition of final platting on at least one tract.
As a condition for the Highway Commission's action on April 7, 1986 (Minute
Order No. 84185), in accepting the preferred westerly alignment between
McPherson Road and F.M. 1187, property owners in this section agreed to
escrow appropriate conveyance documents for the required right-of-way.
The Highway Commission ' s new policy regarding the dedication of required
right-of-way by major property owners in undeveloped areas of new highway
construction is not applicable to the segment of Southwest Freeway which
extends from Hulen Street to I-35 W. In this already-developed area, the
City and County will join with the State in the purchase of required
right-of-way on a ratio of 90 percent State and 10 percent local .
One of the major problems with proceedings in this fashion has been a
concern by property owners that if they are the first to proceed with
dedications of right-of-way, owners of property who dedicate later will, in
some way, obtain more favorable consideration from the City. Other
problems include getting continuous sections of right-of-way and entering
of Community Facilities Contracts for the frontage roads so that usable
sections of road can be constructed.
In order to alleviate the expressed concern of property owners that others
will get a "better deal " , staff will soon recommend for Council
consideration and adoptation a uniform policy of right-of-way acquisition
for the section of Southwest Freeway from Hulen Street to F.M. 1187.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7141-P.4 X64 Forrr�� To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 5, 1986
ZZ
Subject: STATUS REPORT ON THE SOUTHWEST FREEWAY PROJECT (S.H. 121)
IV. STANDARD HIGHWAY DEVELOPMENT PROCEDURE
A. Sequence of Events for Development of Main Freeway Lanes
Under the standard Highway Department development procedure for
planning, design and construction of the primary highway lanes and
interchanges, the first contracts for construction, with a work order
being issued, is projected for April, 1991, over 4 112 years from this
date. The construction completion time for each contract let will
depend on the actual work to be accomplished. Assuming a construction
period of seven (7) years, the highway lanes and interchanges could be
open for traffic in the summer of 1998. These projected dates are
subject to numerous variables and represent staff's "best guess"
scenerio, based on the following activates:
October 1986
Highway Di"partment' s contract with Turner, Collie and Braden is
finally approved and executed.
March 1989
Consultant completes Environmental Impact Study, obtains Federal
Highway Administration approvals, and completes right-of-way
documents.
State and local governments released to acquire right-of-way not
previously dedicated or platted to the public and final design of
construction plans is begun.
October 1989
Highway Department begins final design to segments of freeway,
either in-house or by consultant.
October 1990
Final desi—gn of first segment(s) completed.
Right-of-Way acquired and utilities relocated in area(s) of first
contract(s).
January 1991
Ti'ghway Commission allocates funding for construction of first
segment(s).
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS NO. 7141-Pa5
August 5, 1986
I Jk? To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
Subject:
STATUS REPORT ON THE SOUTHWEST FREEWAY PROJECT (S.H. 121)
Aeril 1991
First contract( s ) let for construction of interchanges and
primary freeway lanes, work orders are issued.
April 1998
Freeway from I-35W to F.M. 1187 is constructed and opened to
traffic.
B. "Best Guess" Construction Sequences
The choice of construction sequence will greatly affect the time of
completion and the utility of various segments. Staff presently
anticipates the following construction sequence will be employed.
August 1989
Complete construction of frontage roads and temporary cross-ovens
from 1-20 south to Risinger Road.
October 1993
Complete interchange ramps (open for traffic ) from 1-20
connecting with frontage roads to the south and extending to
Risinger Road.
Complete interchange ramps (open for traffic ) from 1-20
connecting with frontage roads to the north and extending to the
West Fork of the Trinity River (west oT—H—uTen Street).
March 1997
Complete construction of freeway main lanes from 1-35 to
Jacksboro Highway (S.H. 199) with segments from S.H. 199 to 1-30
following shortly afterwards (Estimate 3 years for final design
and 5 years for construction).
March 1998
Complete construction of freeway (open for traffic) from 1-30 to
Trinity River (west of Hulen Street).
1996
T—onstruction of freeway main lines from Trinity River south to
Risinger Road (based on development in area and traffic growth,
construction could begin in 1992 and be completed in 1996).
Timing Contingent on Development
Construction of frontage roads from Risinger Road to F.M. 1187 (Same
for freeway main lane segment).
-ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS NO. 7151-P.6
O
'�^ TC*to To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 5, 1986
Subject:
STATUS REPORT ON THE SOUTHWEST FREEWAY PROJECT (S.H. 121)
V. CONSIDERATION OF ALTERNATIVE METHODS FOR DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCING FREEWAY
In recognition of the need for new methods to finance and expedite
construction on high priority highway projects in fast growing urban areas
of the State, the June 1984 Special Session of the Texas Legislature passed
two bills (Transportation Corporation Act and Road Utility District Act)
which can be utilized under certain conditions to expedite such projects.
For the past several months, a City Staff Working Group has coordinated
efforts to examine several potential alternative methods for financing and
developing of the Southwest Freeway. While additional research is required
on each of the alternatives being examined, sufficient progress has been
made to lead staff to a belief that one or more of the options under
consideration can possibly be utilized to better serve both public and
private objectives in terms of time and money. The following section will
summarize several potential financing and development alternatives for the
Southwest Freeway. It is emphasized that staff is not now recommending the
utilization of any of these options. Additional research will be required
before such determinations can be made.
A. Texas Transportation Corporation Act (Article 15281, V.T.C.S.)
Transportation corporations created under this Act are public
nonprofit corporations chartered by the Highway Commission to assist
in the planning, promotion and development of state highways. They
are thus chartered to perform an essential governmental function. On
application by three or more persons, the Commission is authorized to
approve the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, appoint the board of
directors, and specify the particular project on which the corporation
is to act on behalf of the Commission. Neither elected officials nor
principal landowners in the project area may serve on the board but
they are eligible for appointment as advisory directors.
Once chartered, such corporation is an institution of purely public
charity with the tax exemption of Article VIII, Section 2, of the
Texas Constitution and under certain circumstances, is exempt from the
franchise tax imposed by Chapter 171 of the Tax Code. Such
corporations may also be qualified organization to which tax-
deductible contributions may be made under Section 115 of the Tax
Code, provided all other requirements for deductibility are met by the
donor.
Transportation corporations have all the powers necessary to work
directly with landowners, local and state government agencies, and
01*1 elected officials in order to promote and develop the highway project,
including:
1) performing preliminary and final alignment studies;
- ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH. TEXAS
^
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No./141-P.
August 5, 1986
5A I To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
-WR
Subject: STATUS REPORT ON THE SOUTHWEST FREEWAY PROJECT (S.H. 121)
2) receiving contributions of land for rights-of-way and cash
donations to be applied to the purchase of rights-of-way not
donated and/or to be applied to the design or construction of the
3) reviewing candidates for advisory directorships, and adding such
advisory directors as may be appropriate;
4) retaining such administrative staffs , and legal , public
relations, and engineering services as may be required for the
development of the projects, and paying such employees and
consultants from funds donated for this purpose;
5) through staff and retained consultants, preparing such exhibits,
right-of-way documents, environmental reports , schematics ,
preliminary and final engineering plans as may be necessary for
the development of the projects;
6) establishing a formula for determining the amou-nt of cash
00061 donations from affected landowners (and others) to cover the
costs of services to be performed by the corporation and
appointed consultants;
7) borrowing money to meet any expenses or needs associated with the
regular operations of the corporation on a particular project;
8) making official presentations to the State and other affected
agencies or groups concerning the development of the project;
9) issuing press releases and other material to promote the
activities of the projects; and
10) performing any other functions requested by the Commission in
order to promote and develop the projects.
The Act was amended in 1985 to permit Transportation Corporations to
construct highway projects and to sell them to the Highway Commission
upon completion. The amendments also permit the corporation to issue
tax exempt revenue bonds to finance construction. The security and
source of payment for these bonds is a contract with the Commission
requiring the Commission to purchase the project upon completion of
construction. The Act further permits the Commission to supervise all
aspects of design, bidding, and construction. It requires the
Commission to "first determine that it will have sufficient funds
available in the year of acquisition to meet its financial obligations
under the contract" prior to entering into a contract to acquire a
highway to be constructed by a transportation corporation.
L ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER - FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS NO.- -
August 5, 1986
OR? To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
uz
s�rxr`'.
Subject: STATUS REPORT ON THE SOUTHWEST FREEWAY PROJECT (S.H. 121)
Transportation corporations originally were intended to assist the
Commission in the planning and design of new state highway projects,
as well as the acquisition of right-of-way for those projects.
Project planning and right-of-way acquisition for a new state highway
frequently can take 7-10 years or longer if the standard state/federal
procedures are followed. Transportation Corporations, on the other
hand, are free of the procedural constraints that limit federal and
state agencies and they may speed project completion by employing
outside consultants on an as-needed basis. Experience with the first
transportation corporation created in Texas -- the Grand Parkway
Association in Houston -- suggests that the typical seven year project
planning period may be reduced to as little as one year through use of
a transportation corporation.
In summary, transportation corporations offer a variety of advantages
for the development of new and improved transportation facilities and
systems . They may play a vital role in projecting planning and
design, and they may further accelerate project completion by
providing an attractive alternative financing mechanism to the state
for construction of highways.
The Transportation Corporation has the option of turning a project
over to the Highway Commission for construction when all planning,
R.O.W. acquisition, and design elements are completed or it can issue
bonds, build the highway, and sell it to the state upon completion.
When the Corporation finances and builds the highway, the advantages
to the state are obvious. It makes only one payment at the end of the
project. During the intervening years, the Commission may invest
these funds that it would have expended for progress payments or spend
those funds on other worthwhile projects. The advantages to cities
are also obvious. With the full cooperation of landowners and
developers the Southwest Freeway project conceivable could be
designed, approved and constructed years in advance of the schedule
outlined above under "Standard Highway Development Procedures".
B. Road Utility District Act (Article 667r-1,V.T.C.S. )
Under authority of Article 111, Section 52 of the State Constitution,
the Legislature in 1984 (Special Session ) passed legislation
authorizing the Highway Commission to establish Road Utility District
(RUDS) as a method of financing certain types of roads and related
drainage facilities . The 1984 statute was amended in 1985 to
authorize conservation and reclamation districts and certain municipal
utility districts to acquire the powers of RUDS.
-ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
^
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No.
PAT94, August 5, 1986
's Sol? To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
X Subject: STATUS REPORT ON THE SOUTHWEST FREEWAY PROJECT (S.H. 121)
Generally, RUDS may issue bonds which are secured by levying an ad
valorem tax, or a pledge of Special Fees assessed by the district, or
a combination of both. To issue bonds which are secured by ad valorem
taxes, the bonds must be authorized by a 2/3 majority vote of the
district's voters. Also, the district may incur indebtedness only up
to 1/4 of the assessed value of real property in the district. RUDS
may enter into contracts and agreements with federal, state and local
governments and with private entities. They may accept grants, loans,
and other funds. The facilities constructed by RUDS are limited to
"macademized". "graveled", or "paved" roads and turnpikes which will
serve as arterial or main feeder roads. Arterial or main feeder roads
are defined as 114-line boulevard-type roads".
A RUD is created by a petition of 100 percent of owners of land in the
proposed district. It is governed initially by a 5 member interim
board of directors which is appointed by the Highway Commission subse-
quent to an election by voters in the district to finally create the
RUD and elect is board members. Prior to a petition to the Highway
Commission, the petitioners must obtain an "approval statement" from
the governing entity to whom the RUD proposed to convey its facilities
upon completion of construction.
Following conveyance of the completed facilities to a predetermined
11approving" entity for operation and maintenance, the RUD remains in
existence until all indebtedness is paid. However, if all parties
agree, the governing body of the entity to which the completed project
is conveyed can be designated as the RUD's board of directors for pur-
poses of administering the retirement of outstanding debt. The annual
tax levied by the district and/or the Special Fees assessed, as the
case may be, are continued until all, debt is retired.
C. Countx Road District (County Road and Bridge Act, Section 4.411,
Article III, Section 52, of the Texas Constitution authorizes all
counties to create County Road Districts (CRDs) which are similar to
RUDS. Both issue bonds to be paid by ad valorem tax levies. Both are
subject to constitutionally imposed debt limits. The difference is in
their organization.
A CRD works within the framework of County Government.
The Commissioners' Court (instead of the Highway Commission) desig-
nates the area to be included in the CRD and serves as its governing
body. The county issues bonds to finance the construction of the
001*1 roads and levies an ad valorem tax on all property within the district
to retire the indebtedness.
-ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
,
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No.714r--P.10
August 5, 1986
loftp To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
X Subject: STATUS REPORT ON THE SOUTHWEST FREEWAY PROJECT (S.H 121)
To create a CRD a majority of the qualified voters petition the
Commissioners' Court to call an election on whether or not the dis-
trict shall be created, bonds shall be issued to finance construction
of the roads, and taxes shall be levied in the district to service the
bonded debt. Following a public hearing, the Commissioners Court must
determine whether the petition was legally proper, due notice had been
given, and whether the proposed improvements would be for the benefit
of all taxable property situated in the county subdivision or road
district. If the Commissioners' Court determination is affirmative in
all respects, it then proceeds to call an election within the subdivi-
sion or district to authorize issuance of the bonds and the levy of
taxes. A 2/3 majority vote of all qualified voters in the district is
required for passage.
D. Toll Road Authority (Texas Turnpike Authority Act, Article 6674v,
The Texas Turnpike Authority, a state agency, is authorized and em-
powered to construct, maintain, repair, and operate Turnpike Projects,
and to issue turnpike bonds payable solely from the revenues of such
projects. Such bonds cannot constitute a debt of the State or of any
of its political subdivisions. The Authority's board of directors is
composed of 12 members, 9 appointed by the Governor, plus the 3
members of the Highway Commission. The Chairman is elected by the
In the performance of its statutory duties, the Turnpike Authority is
empowered to (a) fix and collect tolls; (b) borrow money for feasibi-
lity studies; (c) contract with the Highway Department for traffic
studies and/or engineering; (d) exercise the right of condemnation
over public and private property; (e) purchase property; (f) grant
leases for travel-related activities, and etc.
The procedures for communities desiring to create a turnpike (toll
road) are as follows:
1) Identification of Corridor
All of the potentially affected entities, cities, counties and
chambers of commerce, must agree upon the alignment and identify
the corridor through which they wish to construct a toll road.
2) Feasibility of Obtaining RiSht-Of-W
Landowners in the proposed corri must be willing to donate
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
^
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No.
RTC 4r& August 5, 1986
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
A Subject:
STATUS REPORT ON THE SOUTHWEST FREEWAY PROJECT (S.H. 121)
3) Resolution Requesting Study
All affe entities must pass resolutions requesting the Turn-
pike Authority to fund a feasibility study. For such requests to
be considered meritorious, the Highway Department's district engi-
neer must indicate his approval for the Authority to fund the
4) Initial Feasibility Study
T—he Authority retains a traffic engineer to evaluate demographics
of the proposed corridor. Preliminary engineering is done and a
report is made concerning the feasibility of a more detailed
study. This report is presented to the sponsoring parties, who
then determine if they wish to continue the process.
5) In-Depth Feasibility St
F--the sponsoring parties elect to continue, the Authority pro-
ceeds with an in-depth study which includes cost estimates for
engineering and construction, R.O.W. acquisition cost estimates,
utility relocation costs, etc., as well as in-depth origin/destin-
ation studies, etc.
6) Decision on Project and Bond Issue
If the in--(Te—pth study supports the conclusion that the proposed
toll road is feasible in terms of public need and in terms of
toll revenues being sufficient to retire all costs of construc-
tion and operation, then the sponsoring parties notify the
Authority of their wish to construct the toll road.
7) Issuance of Bonds
The Auth y accepts the project, and proceeds to issue revenue
bonds to finance construction of the project.
Turnpike Authority officials estimate that following the initial feasi-
bility study (Item 4, above) it will take 5 112 years to completion of
construction for a typical project.
L ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
/
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No.
August 5, 1986
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
STATUS REPORT ON THE SOUTHWEST FREEWAY PROJECT (S.H. 121)
VI. SUMMARY
Several factors indicate that it would be prudent for staff to both
continue and expand its investigation of possible alternatives to
standard highway financing and development procedures for the
Southwest Freeway project.
First, the projected 1998 completion date using standard procedures
could well be extended by many years if current levels of state high-
way funding are substantially reduced. Recent reports indicate that
Federal Highway Trust Fund revenues to Texas could be reduced by $400
million by Gramm-Rudman-Hollings cuts. Also, the Texas Legislative
Budget Board in its recommendations for reducing the States , current
revenue deficit has included a transfer of $326 million from existing
highway funds to the general fund.
Second, recent traffic studies have predicted that if completed by
1995, the Southwest Freeway will experience traffic volumes of 100,000
vehicles per day. To date, local economic indicators do not suggest a
substantial slow-down in growth for Fort Worth and Tarrant County.
It is clear that if Transportation Corporations, Road Utility Dis-
tricts, or Turnpike Authority toll roads are to be selected as means
to finance and expedite construction of the Southwest Freeway, there
must be full cooperation and coordination between the City ( both
Council and staff) and major property owners and developers.
Staff is presently preparing several recommendations which it believes
will promote and foster the successful development of this important
.'�kug mas a r m a-n-X-
ity Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS