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ST9602-CS021202T H 6 C 1 T Y • O F COPPELL' V � Q December 2, 2002 Jack Loggins, P.E., Program Manager Parsons Brinkerhoff CMAQ Program Office 1701 N. Market Street, Suite 410 Dallas, Texas 75202 RE: Congestion Mitigation Air Quality Program #ST 96 -02 (CMAQ Project #10) Bethel/Denton Tap Dear Mr. Loggins: The letter is written as a follow -up to our telephone conversation on November 26, 2002 concerning the construction of the free right -turn lane at Bethel Road and Denton Tap Road. For some time now there has been ongoing problems associated with the acquisition of the right -of -way from the Alexander Trust property. I have had numerous conversations with the property owners and I understand that there have been numerous conversations between representatives of Dallas County and the property owners. This project started in the early 1990's as a free right -turn lane off of Denton Tap Road at an estimated cost of approximately $30,000. The City's participation was $6,000 for construction and 20% of the right -of -way acquisition costs. Eight to nine years later, the project is estimated to be approximately $124,000 with the City's contribution for construction being approximately $25,000. It is still unknown as to what it will take to acquire the necessary right -of -way for the construction of the free right -turn lane. There has recently been a twist in the acquisition concerning driveway access off of Denton Tap Road to the Alexander Trust property. There is an existing driveway near the intersection that is substandard and does not meet location requirements for the City of Coppell. It has always existed there as access to the property for mowing purposes. However, once the property is developed that driveway will not be allowed to be at that location. With the proximity of the bridge to the north and the construction of a free right -turn lane, there is some concern whether or not access will be allowed at all to the site off of Denton Tap Road. In our recent conversation, there was concern expressed that if access is totally denied off of Denton Tap Road then the acquisition of the right -of- way necessary for the free right - turn lane may have damages associated with it, which would escalate the cost of the right -of- -way tremendously. The latest estimate for the acquisition of the right -of -way, per our conversation, was approximately $17,000 with the City's participation of approximately $3,400. It is an unknown at this time what the City's participation in right -of -way cost will be if access is denied. Regardless, our potential participation in this project has skyrocketed and short of condemnation of the property there appears to be no end in sight. This property will develop at some point in the future and at that time we can require right -of -way dedication and address access to the property. 255 PARKWAY * P.O.BOX 478 * COPPELL TX 75019 * TEL 972/462 0022 * FAX 972/304 3673 ,Therefore, at this time I am requesting that Dallas County delete the Bethel Road/Denton Tap Road intersection improvements from CMAQ Project 10. It is my understanding that the City of Coppell will be responsible for approximately $6,000 reimbursement to the county for the deletion of this project to cover engineering costs to date. It is also my understanding that we have previously paid $3,420 and $1,218 for a total contribution to the project of $4,638. This will leave a balance due of $1,362 to be reimbursed to Dallas County; however, in lieu of reimbursing money to the county I would like to request that the County consider substitution of a different intersection recently completed by the City of Coppell at Sandy Lake Road and MacArthur Blvd. To facilitate the movement of traffic in this area, we added free right turn lanes on Sandy Lake Road for both north and south bound traffic. This not only allows motorists to safely turn north and south off of Sandy Lake Road, but also creates a more efficient intersection in regard to air quality. It is my understanding that the estimated construction cost for the Bethel Road Denton Tap intersection was $124,000. Based on the information you provided, there is still about $94,000 left for this project. With this letter I am not only requesting deletion of the Bethel/Denton Tap free right -turn lane, but I am requesting that the money be reallocated to the Sandy Lake/MacArthur Blvd. intersection and that the City of Coppell be reimbursed the amount of which the State was prepared to spend on the Bethel /Denton Tap intersection i.e., approximately $94,000. If you need any additional information please feel free to contact me. If not, I look forward to hearing from you in the very near future on this request. Sincerely, 7� rA'- Kenneth M. Griffin, P.E. Director of Engineering/Public Works.