ST9904-CS 950306
March 6, 1995
Kenneth Shirley, Engineers Assistant II
Dallas County
Texas Department of Transportation
12000 North Greenville Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75243-3506
RE: Control: 3547-02-003,3547-03-002
Highway: S.H. 121 Bypass (Phase 1) from S.H. 121 at Denton Creek to Denton Tap Rd.
County: Dallas, Denton
(City of Coppell - Denton Tap Road Cottonwood Creek to North City Limits ST 94-01)
Dear Mr. Shirley:
This letter is written as a follow-up to your February 21, 1995 letter and our meeting. Your letter
requested a written response by March 20th as to whether or not the City would be interested in
funding the materials and construction of the drainage culvert from S.H. 121 Bypass to Denton
Creek with the construction of the S.H. 121 Bypass. This would necessitate the completion of the
construction plans by the City and the City Council appropriating the necessary funds. It is my
intention to take this to the City Council on March 28, 1995 to obtain Council direction. The City
is currently looking at what the cost would be but it is anticipated to be in the $300,000 to
$500,000 range. There are other things to be considered along with the early construction of this
drainage facility. One important item is that if the existing Dallas water line needs to be lowered
for the installation of the box culvert, that then there would need to be extensive coordination
between the City of Coppell, State and the City of Dallas.
It is my understanding that the early construction of this drainage facility offers not only a benefit to
the City of Coppell but a benefit to the State. Under the current State plans, there will need to be
not only the construction of the drainage facility beneath the bypass but also the grading out and the
construction of a concrete channel adjacent to Denton Tap Road to the outfall at Denton Creek. I
am also unsure as to whether or not there would also be some right-of-way acquisition cost by
TxDOT. Given these factors and the short time frame under which we are working, the City of
Coppell would like a commitment from TxDOT that the monies that would have been expended on
the temporary situation will be allocated to help offset the cost by the City of Coppell if the Council
chooses to participate in the construction of the drainage facility prior to the construction of the
roadway. It is my desire that the participation by TxDOT would include all items that would be of
a temporary nature including any right-of-way acquisition costs or any design costs. At this time,
the City is currently trying to evaluate what our cost in the project would be, therefore, we need
your numbers so that we can calculate the difference and present that to City Council on March
28th. If at all possible, the City needs your commitment and your numbers by March 17th, 1995.
If it is not possible to provide the numbers by that time, then I would like the flexibility to not take
this item to Council until we have a clear understanding of what the City's cost would be. If you
are unable to meet the March 17th time line, please let me know so that I can move this agenda
item back to April 11th. To make the April 11th meeting, I need a response from TxDOT by
March 31st.
Let me say that I appreciate the willingness of TxDOT to include the City in some of the
preliminary design considerations and challenges on this project so that they can be addressed prior
to the actual construction.
If you should have any questions or need any additional information please feel free to contact me
at your convenience.
Sincerely,
Kenneth M. Griffin, P.E.
Assistant City Manager/City Engineer