TR9302-CS 930401
April 1, 1993
Mr. Michael Morris
Director of Transportation
North Central Texas Council of Government
P.O. Box 5888
Arlington, Texas 76005-5888
RE: 1993 Transportation Improvement Program/
Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program
Dear Mr. Morris:
This letter is written as a follow-up to our meeting on March 29, 1993, in which we discussed
projects in Coppell that had received funding from the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality
Program. The funded projects were listed as signal improvements and a detailed listing of the
signal improvements was provided at the meeting. I noticed that of the nine signal improvements
provided, six were on improved streets and the City of Coppell had recently synchronized them
under the TLS Program. The other three signals were on Sandy Lake Road at Samuel, Moore and
MacArthur. After some discussion, it was noted that the projects even though they were in
Coppell, had been submitted by Dallas County and that I should contact either Richard Peterson or
Don Cranford with Dallas County concerning why these projects were submitted. During the
course of our discussion, I made a recommendation that the funds be reallocated to a project that
the City of Coppell had submitted in July, 1992. That project specifically was the improvement of
the Sandy Lake Road and Moore Road intersection along with signalization at that intersection. It
was noted that this is a major east/west street in Coppell and currently has severe traffic problem
associated with it. Because Sandy Lake Road was listed in the projects submitted by the county,
and the funds basically would not be moved from the projects submitted there was positive
indication that the project for the improvement of Sandy Lake Road and Moore Road could be
funded under this program with the heading of `Corridor Improvement along Sandy Lake Road'.
The project basically would include the reconstruction of the Sandy Lake Road and Moore Road
intersection with four lanes and a turn lane each way and signal lights, plus the improvement of the
signal lights at MacArthur/Sandy Lake and Samuel/Sandy Lake. I was instructed to speak to the
county concerning this project and to respond back to you and the Texas Department of
Transportation.
On March 30, 1993, I spoke with Don Cranford of Dallas County concerning this project. Mr.
Cranford stated that it was the County's intention to do a TLS Program on the six signal lights
listed on Denton Tap and Beltline and that they were unaware the City had obtained funding for a
TLS Project. He stated that if in fact that project had been funded and completed, then the County
would not need the funds for those six signal lights. I explained the scope of the project which I
was seeking to gain approval from both the State and the Council of Governments and Mr.
Cranford stated he had no problem with that as long as the funds were still spent in the area along
the roadway as was submitted by the County. In fact, it is the case that these funds would be spend
on Sandy Lake at three intersections listed by the county.
Because six of the nine intersections have already been completed with the TLS Program, because
the County has no problem with the City suggesting a redefinition of the project along Sandy Lake
Road and because the funds have already been allocated for signal/intersection improvements, the
City respectfully request the Council of Governments and the Texas Department of Transportation
approve a redefinition of the project that has been funded in the amount of $443,000. If the City
can provide any additional information please feel free to contact me at your convenience.
Sincerely,
Kenneth M. Griffin, P.E.
City Engineer
cc: John Blaine, Texas Department of Transportation
Don Cranford, Dallas County
Frank Trando, Acting City Manager
Steve Goram, Director of Public Works
file/cog.ltr