ST0301-CS030908PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BETHEL ROAD II PROJECT # ST 03-01
SEPTEMBER 8, 2003 @ 6:30 P.M.
Thoroughfare Plan Exhibit
1. Bethel Road from Denton Tap to just east of Freeport Parkway will be a 2-lane roadway.
2. Traffic counts from April 2001 show 7500 cars with a 50/50 split going east and west.
Denton Tap Intersection Exhibit
1. The intersection of Bethel Road with Denton Tap will have five lanes, from intersection to
approximately 500 feet west of intersection.
2. West bound will have two lanes and east bound will have three lanes (left-turn, through, and right-
turn).
Project Status Chart Exhibit
1. Construction of Bethel Road II is scheduled to start in June 2005.
2. An attendee questioned the gap between the end of design and the beginning of construction on
Bethel Road II.
3. The gap between the end of design and the beginning of construction is due to the timing of the
bond sale to try to accomplish construction without a tax increase.
4. Construction of Coppell Road (from Sandy Lake to Cooper Lane) is also scheduled to start in June
2005 and construction of Bethel Road I is scheduled to start in mid 2004.
5. An attendee asked about the proposed overlay project.
6. An agenda item for the overlay of Bethel Road is scheduled for the September 9, 2003 City
Council meeting. It is a cost-share project with Dallas County.
7. An attendee questioned spending the money for the overlay since the road is to be reconstructed.
8. The City made the decision to spend the _+$125,000 dollars because of the rapid deterioration of the
roadway. The existing roadway will not last until June 2005.
9. The overlay project will start within a month of Council approval and will take approximately
seven weeks to complete.
10. The City will send out notices for any road closures during the overlay project.
Aerial Photo with Overlay Exhibit
1. The bridge over Grapevine Creek will be rebuilt with amenities consistent with historical overlay
and Old Coppell Master Plan. Consultant will use bridge characteristics of existing bridges in
Coppell.
2. The elevation of the new bridge will be raised 2 to 3.5 feet in order to span the flood plain.
Consultant will try to keep at 3 feet maximum if possible.
3. There will be a sidewalk on the new bridge.
4. The alignment of the roadway will hold the north edge of the proposed roadway to the north edge
of the existing roadway in the vicinity of Old Coppell Estates. Do not want to impact the existing
subdivision wall and landscaping. This will impact more trees along the south, however the trees
are several rows deep in that area.
5. Attendees questioned the alignment, width, and location of the proposed sidewalk.
Th~ sidewalk will be on the south side of the roadway. This allows more flexibility on the design
of the sidewalk in the parks on the south side.
7. The box culverts on Coppell Road and Bethel Road will be designed with amenities consistent with
historical overlay and Old Coppell Master Plan.
8. The intersection of Bethel Road and Freeport Parkway will transition from 2-lanes to 4-lanes.
9. The City asked the consultant, Freese & Nichols, to stay tree to the Old Coppell Master Plan in the
design of landscaping, trees, etc. Some of the concepts may drop out due to constraints - can not
build what is shown in the Master Plan. The distance between some of the buildings is shown as
80 feet in the Master Plan but is 65 feet in reality. Need to have the consultant's design interface
with the Master Plan.
10. The streetscape plans will extend to the limits of the historical overlay.
11. May need additional right-of-way for on-street parking and sidewalks. The Master Plan showed
cluster parking.
12. Some of the attendees want the City to create a pedestrian friendly environment in the historical
area by slowing traffic
13. Bethel Road is a collector street and a 24-foot width is unsafe. Traffic can not be slowed with
traffic signals and stop signs unless they are warranted. Traffic signals will be located at Freeport,
Coppell North, and Denton Tap. Traffic can not be slowed with randomly placed road humps. The
Fire Department has response time requirements and they lose time with each road hump they have
to cross. Road humps are not considered on collector streets.
14. Speed limits are based on a spread survey and the City can not arbitrarily set speed limits.
15. Bethel Road is classified as a C2U on the Thoroughfare Plan and the next step down is a residential
street.
16. An attendee stated that the police could make the traffic slow down, if the streets are constructed
too narrow it will congest traffic in the historical area.
17. Several attendees indicated that on-street parking would slow traffic.
18. The schematic currently shows 50 to 54 spaces to serve businesses.
19. Several attendees want the historical area to be a destination-oriented area and eliminate the
through traffic. Want to add roundabout, three-way stops, or mid street crosswalks.
20. Several attendees wanted the on-street parking to be reconsidered. Businesses need the through
traffic for new customers.
Bridge/Culvert Schematics AT Bt & C Exhibit
1. The culverts at Coppell Road and Bethel Road and the bridge over Grapevine Creek will be
designed with amenities that let you know that you are in a historical district.
2. May consider different types of roadway construction materials in historical district (cobblestone,
stamped concrete, etc.).
3. Several attendees questioned the overhead utility lines located in the historical district. Said the
power lines appeared to be too low and could something be done. Utilities have the right to be
above ground, but we try to limit or eliminate overhead utilities crossing the road.
Public Input For Consideration
1. The width and design of the sidewalk - can it be wider and with sufficient distance from the road.
2. Lower the speed limit through the historical district.
3. Review on-street parking. Should additional off-street parking be provided.
4. Work with Oncor on the power lines.
5. Update traffic counts.
6. Provide left-turn lane for eastbound traffic at the intersection of Bethel and N. Coppell Road.
7. Eliminate parallel parking.