Lesley Property-CS001214 T H E C I T Y 0 F _
COP?ELL
December 14, 2000
,al $
Jim O'Connor, P.E.
City of Irving
Dept. of Transportation
825 W. Irving Blvd.
Irving, Texas 75060
RE: I.H 635 ramp locations between MacArthur Blvd. and Belt Line Road
Dear Mr. O'Connor:
On December 11, 2000 I met with Ulys Lane and Ed Cowen representing the Leslie
property in the City of Coppell, Maurice Pittman from IxDOI, Robert McFarland with
Trammel Crow Company and Dennis Chovan of Halff and Associates representing the
Trammel Crow Company concerning proposed ramp modifications along I.H. 635.
During this meeting I was made aware that the Cie' of Irving had recently recommended
a change in their Thoroughfare Plan to reconfigure Ranch Trail to intersect a proposed
frontage road east of a proposed entrance ramp to I.H. 635 to allow traffic to enter I.H.
635 from Ranch Trail. That change could have an adverse impact on the CiD' of Coppell.
It is my understanding that the future exit ramp for Belt Line Road will be relocated from
its current location east towmd the new overpass constructed bet~veen Mac.,-M-thur and
Belt Line. With the relocation of the exit ramp, I understand that the City of Irving will
request from TxDot that the new entrance ramp to I.H. 635 be located such that it can be
accessed t¥om Ranch Trail. Locating Ranch Trail such that it can access a new entrance
ramp to I.H. 635 will require the new entrance ramp to be shifted further ,.,.'est, possibly
even west of Belt Line Road. Shifting the new entrance ramp to I.H. 635 closer to or
even ,,vest of Belt Line Road could have an adverse impact on existing ramps further west
in the City of Coppell, possibly even requiring the elimination of one of Coppell's current
ramps. It is difficult to determine if that would happen without a detailed study of the
area.
We are asking that the impact of relocating entrance and exit ramps and the location of
the connection of Ranch Trail to the proposed frontage road be further evaluated and
include areas west of Freeport Parkway to a point where the impacts are negligible. A
more detailed analysis of the area could produce configurations that are beneficial to both
Irving and Coppell and proposed developments within Irving and Coppell without being
detrimental to either city or development.
It is my understanding that the proposed thoroughfare change will be presented to your
City Council on Thursday, December 14, 2000. Please convey to your Council that
255 PARK'NAY It P O BOX 478 ~' COPPELL TX 75019 1Ir TEL 972:462 0022 '*' FAX 972:304 3673
without further study, the City of Coppell is concerned how the thoroughfare change
could impact ramp locations.
On another matter, there appears to be some confusion on the City of Coppell's position
concerning the intersection of Hackberry to Belt Line Road. The position that we have
taken is that any major development along Hackberry Road that impacts traffic
movement along Belt Line Road could cause the City of Coppell to reconsider the
existing median opening at Hackberry and Belt Line. As you are aware, the proximity of
Hackberry to I.H. 635 precludes a traffic signal being installed at this location. My letter
of May 14, 1997 to Blake Magee (copy attached) suggested that Hackberry could
potentially be relocated further north and therefore have controlled access to Belt Line
Road. My letter also suggested that other options could include the construction of a
frontage road along I.H. 635 or a hooded left turn at Hackberry. Only as a last resort did
I suggest closing the existing median opening at Hackberry and Belt Line. It is still our
opinion that the optimum solution would be the relocation of Hackberry further north.
Again, please convey our concerns with modifications to the ramps without a detailed
study to your City Council prior to their deliberation on this action.
Thank you for your consideration of this matter. If you have any questions please feel
free to contact me at 972/304-3686.
Sincerely,
Kenneth M. G-if ]~n, P~E.
Director of Engineering/Public Works
P.O. Box 478
Coppell, Texas 75019
The City With A Beautiful Future 214-462-0022
May 14, 1997
Blake Magee
Blake Magee Company
610 Guadalupe
Austin, TX 78701
RE: Southeast corner Belt Line Road at Hackberry Road
Dear Mr. Magee:
This letter is written as a follow-up to several conversations I have had concerning current
and future accessibility from the southeast corner of the intersection of Belt Line Road with
Hackberry Road. Currently, Belt Line Road is a six-lane divided thoroughfare with a
median opening and a left turn lane serving Hackberry Road. In its current configuration,
with undeveloped land on both sides, the City has no problems with the intersection and
has no plans to alter it at this time. It is our understanding that a potentially high traffic
generator both at the corner of Hackberry and along the entire stretch of Hackberry Road
could change the traffic characteristics of the intersection. As traffic conditions change in
the future, the City of Coppell will be required to evaluate the intersection to insure that
it is both safely operating and is not adversely impacting the capacity of Belt Line Road.
Should that evaluation reveal that changes need to be made, those changes could include
but not be limited to the following:
1. Realignment of Hackberry Road to the north to create a greater separation from
I.H. 635 with the potential to signalize the intersection;
2. Construction of frontage roads along I.H. 635 between Belt Line Road and
MacArthur Blvd. to provide an alternate way of entering and exiting the site;
3. Restricting movements at the Hackberry intersection by creating a left turn in only
movement from south bound Belt Line Road;
4. Closure of the median opening. (Please note that the closing of the median
opening would be a last resort which would only be considered after all other
options have been exhausted.).
The City of Coppell would like to be very clear that any of Options 1-3 will need to be
funded by the traffic generators i.e, property and development along Hackberry Road east
of Belt Line Road. If traffic conditions dictated and funding was not provided by the
traffic generators, then the City may be left with no alternative but Option 4.
The City of Coppell's main concern is the traffic safety along Belt line Road at the
intersection of Hackberry Road. The City is also very sensitive to the need to develop
property that has good access and visibility from major points of travel and to adequately
develop access and circulation to those properties. As always, the City of Coppeil is eager
to help and assist development in and adjacent to the City of Coppell. However, as
previously stated, our main concern is for the safety of the traveling public.
Should you have any questions concerning this issue or need clarification on the City of
Coppell's position concerning the existing median opening at Hackberry and Belt Line Road
please feel free to contact this office at (972) 304-3679 to speak with either myself or Mike
Martin, Assistant City Engineer.
Sincerely,
Ke~nneth M. Grifl'm, P.E.
Director of Engineering and Public Works
cc: David Gonzenbach Kenneth E. Reimer
J Michael Starek, P.E.
file/kgriffin/hackbry.597