ST9904-AG 990928~~,~_~ AGENDA REk~UEST FORM
T~e C~ ~ A Be~ufl~l ~
CITY COUNCIL MEETING: September 28, 1999 ITEM # 12
ITEM CAPTION:
Consider approval of ratifying the City's financial commitment to the construction of the main lanes and
diamond interchanges along SH 121 in accordance with four other municipalities and Denton County.
APPROVED
BY
CITY COUNCIL
SUBMITTED BY: Keneth M. Griffin, P.E.
TITEL: Director of Engineering/Public Works ,,~~.F '~
STAFF COMMENTS: ~r2~ ~
See attached memo. p~br_,ld~,
BUDGET AMT. $ AMT. EST. $ +\-BID $
FrNANCIAL COMMENTS:
Certificates of Obligation will be issued to satisfy the City~s commitment to 5~e 121
project. ~ t
DIR. INITIALS: IZ~ FIN. REVIEW: ~ CITY MANAGER REVIE
Agenda Request Form - Revised 2/99 Document Name: #09282a
MEMORANDUM
FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Ken Griffin, P.E., Director of Engineering and Public Works ~7
RE: Consider approval of ratifying the City's financial commitment to the construction of the
main lanes and diamond interchanges along SH 121.
Date: September 17, 1999
On August 10, 1999, Council approved Resolution 081099.3 supporting the use of the State
Infrastructure Bank to expedite the development of the SH 121 main lanes from Collin County to DFW
Airport. One component of the resolution was that the City of Coppell prefers a freeway over the
development of a toll facility and would be willing to provide funding to off-set a portion of the cost.
Commissioner Sandy Jacobs with Denton County Precinct Two, has taken a leadership role in
expediting the funding for the construction of the approximately 14.5 miles of SH 121 from Collin
County to Tarrant County. The project starts near FM 2499 and proceeds along SH 121, the by-pass,
across 1-35 and terminates at Collin County. Construction includes diamond interchanges at Sandy
Lake, Freeport, Denton Tap and MacArthur that will positively impact traffic movement and
development opportunities along 121 for the City of Coppell.
With the help of the firm of Innovative Transportation Solutions, Inc., Commissioner Jacobs has been
successful in lobbying the State to utilize the State Infrastructure Bank as a key component of the
funding mechanism for the project. The entire project has an estimated cost of 145 million dollars.
Without this funding mechanism, the project is on a timeline of approximately twelve to fifteen years
before engineering begins. However, if during that time, traffic needs dictate a quicker construction
schedule, then it is quite possible that the roadway would be constructed as a toll facility. By pulling
together the State, the Noah Central Texas Council of Govemments, Denton County and the cities of
Lewisville, Carrollton, The Colony, Grapevine and Coppell, Commissioner Jacobs has developed a
funding mechanism that would allow design to begin immediately on SH 121 with the first construction
contract let in the year 2003. Immediately thereafter, construction contracts would be let in 2004 and
2005 with construction of the entire freeway section being completed sometime around the timeframe of
2008. This is substantially ahead of the current time schedule.
The following is a general breakdown of the funding to be provided for the $150,000,000 project:
National Highway System $ 97.55 million
Noah Central Texas Council of Governments $ 30.00 million
Denton County $ 8.25 million
State Infrastructure Bank $10.00 million
$145.80 million
"CITY OF COPPELL ENGINEERING - EXCELLENCE BY DESIGN"
Because the regulations governing the State Infrastructure Bank are quite complicated, Denton County
has also retained the services of financial experts to review and scrutinize the loan.
Bottom line, when all the funding mechanisms are considered and all repayment schedules are
considered, there is $10,000,000 that will need to be committed to the project by the five cities of which
SH 121 either fronts or bisects. The 10 million dollars is to repay the loan from the State Infrastructure
Bank. Again, those five cities are Lewisville, Carrollton, The Colony, Grapevine and Coppell.
On September 15, 1999, a meeting was held with representatives from the five cities to discuss the
division of the $10,000,000 between the five cities. After a very lengthy and sometimes colorful
discussion between the five cities, it became quite obvious that the division of the monies would not be
as simple as looking strictly at the adjacent frontage of land. This is because of the entire $145,000,000,
large portions of the money are concentrated along very specific sections such as the interchange of the
future main lanes of 121 with 1-35 at approximately $40,000,000; and the section between Coppell and
Grapevine at approximately $40,000,000. Those two major projects constitute approximately three miles
of the 14.5 miles of construction or around 20% of the total construction length, yet they constitute over
50% of the total cost. It was also quite obvious to the five city representatives that any one component
of the 14.5 mile project could not stand alone and in and of itself could not resolve the regional traffic
issues.
To come to a final resolution on participation by the five cities there was some general reliance on
adjacent footage. But there was also a realization by each city that the major components of the overall
project would have a profound benefit to all cities irregardless of whether they were located within that
city or not.
The City of Coppell's share of the $145,000,000 project, is 2.06 million dollars. This constitutes
approximately 1.4% of the overall project and 20.6% of the ten million dollars to repay the State
Infrastructure Bank loan. The other cities contribution to repay the State Infrastructure Bank loan is as
generally follows: Lewisville 39%; Grapevine 7.5%; Carrollton 20%; and The Colony 13%. Those
numbers still might change slightly, however, the City of Coppell's participation would not increase
beyond the 2.06 million dollars.
Attached to this agenda item is a copy of the August 10, 1999 Resolution and a copy of a letter written
on September 16, 1999 by Jim Witt, City Manager. In essence, the letter states that the City is
committing to 2.06 million dollars, subject to Council ratification, subject to annual appropriations by
the Council and the development of a formal inter-local agreement. This is an excellent opportunity for
the City of Coppell to be proactive in eliminating the dangerous conditions that currently exist at SH 121
with Sandy Lake and Coppell Road and to provide for better, more efficient traffic along SH 121 with
much improved access to Sandy Lake and Freeport. Based on meetings in the past, it is quite obvious a
firm commitment by the State on the configuration of a diamond interchange at Sandy Lake will only
help to expedite the development of the intersection of Sandy Lake and SH 121.
Because of the opportunity to eliminate existing safety conditions along SH 121, the ability to address a
regional traffic issue along SH 121 and the potential to spur economic development along SH 121, Staff
recommends the ratification of the September 16, 1999 letter committing 2.06 million dollars to the SH
121 project, subject to annual appropriations by the City Council. Staff will be available to answer any
questions at the Council Meeting.
"CITY OF COPPELL ENGINEERING - EXCELLENCE BY DESIGN"
Coppell, Texas 75019
September 16, 1999
Mr. John Polster
Innovative Transportation Solutions, Inc.
2309 Springlake Road, Suite 630
Dallas, Texas 75234
RE: Coppell's Share of 121 Construction
Dear Mr. Polster:
On behalf of the City of Coppell, I hereby commit a total of $2.06 million for the completion of
the Highway 121 Bypass Project during the next five fiscal years, beginning with Fiscal Year
2000. This funding is subject to full Council ratification at the September 28, 1999 City of
Coppell Council Meeting. The City's fiscal participation, and our annual contribution is also
subject to appropriations made by the Council during each fiscal year budget approval process.
Our commitment is also subject to applicable state law, as well as the development of a formal
interlocal agreement among participating entities.
Please advise us regarding the mechanism to transfer funds to Denton County to be placed in
trust for utilization on this project. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this
commitment, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at (972) 304-3618.
Re~/,ctf lly, .
d/''' JW:kb
cc: Ken Griffin
General Limits of
SH 121 Project
LEWISVILLE
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CARROLLTON
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Produced by..En ~neering Dept ~00 1" = 10,000'
Date...Septem~rr~, 1999 0 0 10000 Feet
~Tit~~ P.O. BOx 478
· C!~ CopFell, TX 75019
Ph~me: (972)304-3679
Fax: (972)304-3570
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
FAX CO VER SHEET
To: John Polster From: Ken Griffin
Fax: Date: 10/11/99
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