ST9904-CS 941118
November 18, 1994
The Honorable Dan Morales
Attorney General of the State of Texas
P.O. Box 12545
209 West 14th & Colorado Streets
Austin, Texas 78711-2548
Dear General Morales:
During the development of the 1995 Transportation Improvements Plan, the State Highway 121 Bypass was
removed from the 1996 funding cycle. After considerable effort by Denton County, local residents, and area
corporations, $10 million in funding was reallocated for Section 9 (Lewisville Bypass) of this critical project.
As you know, the SH 121 Bypass project is a critical regional thoroughfare in the Dallas Fort Worth area,
linking southern Denton and Collin Counties, as well as northern Tarrant and Dallas Counties, directly to the
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
The SH 121 Bypass project has been developed over more than eight years of planning. The SH 121 Task Force
has met every month during these eight years, along with local TxDOT officials who have provided
immeasurable value and assistance in many areas. The Task Force, comprised of counties, local governments,
corporations and affected land owners, have worked in a cooperative manner with the Dallas TxDOT District
office to expedite this much needed roadway.
To date, the Task Force has assisted the State in acquiring approximately 200 acres of donated right-of-way
valued at over $30 million. Many of these properties have reversionary clauses in their deed transfers that call
for the return of the property to the original owner if construction is not initiated by a future specific date. The
local governments have directly contributed significant funding to assist in design work, environmental clearance
and right-of-way acquisition. According to Texas Department of Transportation guidelines, use of these funds is
contingent upon the "letting" of this project by September 30, 1996. Right-of-way must be acquired and utilities
must be relocated prior to "letting".
It is my understanding that you, as the Attorney General, represent the State in acquiring the necessary right-of-
way for the SH 121 Bypass, and that currently, the Attorney General's office is experiencing excessive work
loads that have caused a backlog of projects requiring eminent domain actions.
I am representing a City that is directly impacted by this critical roadway and the critical nature of the timeliness
of the acquisition of this necessary right-of-way. Therefore, I am writing to request that your office authorize
Denton County to retain, under the supervision and control of the Assistant General Attorney assigned to the
project, legal counsel to assist with the expedited acquisition of necessary right-of-way for Section 9 of the SH
121 Bypass.
Sincerely,
Jim Witt
City Manager