ST9304-CS 860203 (2)DALLAS COUNTY
PUBLIC WORKS
February 3, 1986
The Honorable Mayor
and City Council
City of Coppell
P. O. Box 478
Coppell, Texas 75019
Re:
Report on the Belt Line Road
Projects in Carrollton and Coppell
Dear Mr. Mayor and City Council Members:
The proposed improvement of Belt Line Road between Denton Tap Road
in Coppell and I.H. 35E in Carrollton is included in the 1985 Capital
Improvement Bond Program and designated in the election order as
two projects for funding purposes. The two projects with funding
authorized are:
Project 402 (Carrollton)
Project 403 (Coppell)
Belt Line Road (Coppell
City Limits to I.H. 35E)
Belt Line Road (Denton Tap
to Coppell City Limits)
and
Denton Tap Road (Belt Line
to County Line)
$5,150,000
$4,250,000
The first increment of bonds sold included funding for the design
of the two projects.
The firm of Albert Halff & Associates was recommended as consultant
engineer for design of the Belt Line Road project in Carr011t0n.
The scope of proposed improvements funded for the section of Belt
Line Road in Carrollton in the 1985 Bond Program was to provide for
design, right of way acquisition and construction of bridges for
the Elm Fork Floodway and a four lane divided roadway. Cost esti-
mates developed by the Public Works Department were based upon
utilization of the existing right of way and alignment. During
negotiation of a fee for a design contract, a southern routing con-
ceptual alignment was submitted to the Public Works Department for
consideration. The suggested relocation was presented to the City
of Carrollton staff for comment and then discussed in concept at a
group meeting of property owners and Dallas County, City of Carroll-
ton, City of Coppell and Farmers Branch-Carrollton Flood Control
District representatives. The suggested relocation received favor-
able comment from most property owners present and subsequently
from the City of Carrollton staff. ~J'
161 Commerce Dallas, Texas 75207 749-8151
February 3, 1986
The Honorable Mayor and
City Council of Coppell
Page 2
At a City Council meeting in the City of Coppell on December 10,
1985, a developer, Terra Companies, developers of the Riverchase
project in Coppell north of Belt Line Road and the railroad, raised
objections to the suggested concept of the relocation of Belt Line
based upon an engineer's recommendation that the proposed reloca-
tion in the city of Carrollton would create traffic safety problems
due to substandard horizontal curves creating poor sight distance
at intersections, increased cost due to longer bridges, temporary
construction items, utility relocation, additional fill and delays
in the acquisition of right of way and acquisition of permits from
the Corps of Engineers and FEMA for construction in the Elm Fork
flood plain. The Coppell City Council deferred any action on the
matter pending a workshop discussion.
A design contract was awarded to Albert Halff & Associates, and on
January 8, 1986, they submitted a study and report to the Dallas
County Public Works Department in response to instructions to pre-
pare a report to submit to the Cities on alternate alignments and
in response to the issues raised by the Terra Companies' engineers.
The report by Halff & Associates concludes that the relocation of
Belt Line Road approximately 600 feet south of the present right
of way is safer, less costly and can be completed in one year less
time than construction on the existing route. The report further
concludes that bridge lengths on the proposed relocation will not
be significantly longer than on the existing alignment at the Elm
Fork (the Hutton Branch Bridge will require an increase in length
of approximately 120 feet). The Halff study further evaluates and
recommends that the proposed route will provide safer crossings of
the Southern Pacific Railroad at two major thoroughfares intersect-
ing Belt Line Road (Luna Road in Carrollton and MacArthur Boulevard
in Coppell) and that the construction cost for the alternate align-
ment is less, even with added length of bridges, than on the exist-
ing alignment. This report has been submitted to the two cities
for their review.
After considerable evaluation of the issues raised by engineers
for Terra Companies regarding the suggested relocation, meetings
with both engineering firms and a discussion of floodway hydraulic
analyses prepared by Albert Halff & Associates at a meeting with
members of the Corps of Engineers staff in Fort Worth, it is the
recommendation of the Dallas County Public Works Department that
the City Councils of the Cities of Carrollton and Coppell authorize
Dallas County to proceed with the following actions:
A. Prepare preliminary engineering surveys, design and plans
which will define in detail the proposed location of Belt Line Road
between Moore Road and I.H. 35E, the scope of work and specific
right of way alignment. Preliminary plans shall be submitted for
approval of the Cities prior to proceeding with the final design
or right of way acquisition.
.,February 3, 1986
The Honorable Mayor and
' City Council of Coppell
Page 3
B. Prepare detailed cost estimates based upon preliminary
design approved by the Cities, the Corps of Engineers and FEMA for
a four lane divided roadway from Moore Road to MacArthur Boulevard
and a six lane divided roadway from MacArthur to I.H. 35E.
C. Acquire by dedication the necessary rights of way based
upon the City approved alignment and design, including the nego-
tiation of the exchange of surplus rights of way, as appropriate,
along the existing alignment upon completion of the new improve-
ments, save and except those easements necessary to provide for
existing utilities and access to the new facilities by those cur-
rently having legal access to existing Belt Line Road.
D. Submit to each City for execution by each City Council a
standard Interlocal Agreement authorizing the County to construct
the proposed thoroughfare improvements upon the approved right of
way in accordance with the funding limitations set out in the
April, 1985 election order. (Each City has previously been pro-
vided a draft of the standard agreement for review.)
E. Develop cost participation agreements, as necessary, to
supplement the County's funding for improvements requested by the
Cities that are in excess of the scope of work anticipated by the
County (i.e., six lane bridges and four lane divided roadway im-
provements).
F. Depending upon action taken by the City of Coppell regard-
ing realignment or construction of Belt Line Road, notify the City
of Dallas and have agreement executed for that portion of the road-
way within their jurisdiction.
The foregoing recommendation is based upon our engineering jud~nt
and opinion that the concept of relocating Belt Line Road to the
location suggested in Halff & Associates' report has considerable
merit and should be given serious consideration for the following
re as ORS:
1. Property owners along the proposed relocation have already
filled most of the low areas and have expressed a willingness to
dedicate the required right of way if the existing right of way is
exchanged therefor.
2. Two major thoroughfares intersecting Belt Line (Luna and
MacArthur) can be designed and constructed to provide safer and
more efficient movement of traffic across the existing railroad.
3. The construction can be carried on without disruption and
detouring of traffic, thereby minimizing construction hazards,
cost and time for construction.
..February 3, 1986
The Honorable Mayor and
' City Council of Coppell
Page 4
4. The project will not be delayed for relocation of exist-
ing utilities presently in the right of way.
Finally, while we are of the opinion that the suggested alignment
will prove to be more cost effective, it is felt that, in addition
to other potential benefits to the Cities, the enchancement to re-
maining properties and the property owner support exhibited for the
relocation will provide an opportunity to seek developer/property
owner financial participation in this project.
Sincerely,
Director of Public Works
JWB: sg