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ST9904-CS000411 MEMORANDUM FROM DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING To.' From: Date: RE: Mayor and City Council Kenneth M. Griff'm, P.E., Director of Engineering/Public Works ~ April 11, 2000 Discussion concerning reconunendations from the SH ll4/SH 121 Major Investment Study technical committee for SH 121. For several years now, the City of Coppell has participated with other cities and agencies on a technical committee for a Major Investment Study along SH 114 and SH 121. This study is different and independent from the other section of SH 121 which Council has previously been briefed on and has committed funding to, even though there is some overlap. This item is brought forth to Council to discuss the recommendation from the committee and how it adversely impacts Coppell and to seek direction from the Council. In 1989 the City of Coppell commissioned a study of access and ramp configurations along SH 121 from Bethel Road to Denton Creek. The results of that study were presented to the Council on October 10, 1989 and accepted with few changes. TxDOT was informed of the City's support of the plan in November, 1989. Upon my employment with the City of Coppell in late 1991, one of the items of which I became familiar with was SH 121. I had a concern with the configuration of the access to the City as it provided limited access to the potential commercial development along SH 121 within Coppell. In 1993, I began conversations with the City of Grapevine to determine if they would be willing to jointly pursue changes to the plan along SH 121. My biggest problem with the plan accepted in 1989 was that there was only one northbound exit ramp to serve all the intersecting streets in Coppell north of Bethel Road. My initial request to TxDOT in 1994 was that they re- evaluate this section of SH 121 to determine if a diamond interchange could be provided at Freeport Parkway. At the time, our thoroughfare plan showed both Freeport Parkway and Parkway Boulevard intersecting SH 121. One of the concerns of TxDOT was how to provide good access at Freeport Parkway when our thoroughfare plan showed Parkway Boulevard intersecting the highway approximately 800' north of Freeport Parkway. I then approached Council in January, 1995 with the concept of eliminating the connection of Parkway Boulevard to SH 121. That elimination created just one major road intersection, i.e. Freeport Parkway, thereby allowing the opportunity for a diamond interchange with SH 121. In late 1995, additional correspondence was sent to TxDOT requesting that a diamond interchange be provided at Freeport Parkway and SH 121. With the construction of Grapevine Mills Mall, Grapevine became increasingly concerned about the proposed access to and from Grapevine from SH 121. In 1998, I was contacted by Grapevine to inquire as to whether or not I would support them in requesting changes to the SH 121 plan. The revisions that Grapevine was proposing were full diamond interchanges at both Sandy Lake and Freeport Parkway. With just some minor revisions to the plan by the City of Coppell, of which Grapevine incorporated, the cities of Grapevine and Coppell proposed a concept plan to TxDOT in "CITY OF COPPELL ENGINEERING - EXCELLENCE BY DESIGN" mid 1998. That concept plan included full diamond interchanges at Freeport Parkway and Sandy Lake Road and good access from Bethel Road to both north and southbound SH 121. Correspondence from TxDOT in late 1998 stated that they had reviewed the concept plan and noted that the concept plan provided for interchanges at Sandy Lake and Freeport and additional lanes on the frontage road. The correspondence from TxDOT was non-committal on their position. However, I did contact TxDOT and was verbally informed that TxDOT would be accepting the concept plan. The technical committee of the Major Investment Study for SH 114 and SH 121 began meeting shortly thereafter concerning future freeway construction in the area. At each meeting, the cities of Grapevine and Coppell strongly objected to the concept proposed and keep referring the consultant to the concept plan we had provided to TxDOT in 1998. In 1999, the consultant visited Coppell asking for additional input on the concept plan that they were proposing as part of the Major Investment Study. At that meeting, I expressed my dissatisfaction with the proposed plan as it provided limited access to and from the City of Coppell, especially at Sandy Lake Road. Even though we and the City of Grapevine have objected throughout this long process, the recent recommended concept plan from the TxDOT consultant incorporates very little of our recommendations from the concept plan provided to TxDOT in 1998. In essence, the City of Coppell is faced with limited access to Sandy Lake Road and convoluted access to SH 121. At the Council Meeting, Staff will provide exhibits showing the progression of various designs from 1989 to the current proposal. Because of the scale of those designs they cannot be reduced and provided with the agenda item and still be readable. This is a very important and critical decision time for access to Sandy Lake Road. Based on input from Council, it's possible that Staff may follow-up at a subsequent council meeting seeking approval to retain the services of a lzansportation firm to further evaluate our concerns for access to and from SH 121. This is our one shot at providing the absolute best access to and from Coppell for citizens and development purposes. Staff will be available to answer questions at the Council meeting. "CITY OF COPPELL ENGINEERING - EXCELLENCE BY DESIGN" ..,,, Ramping Affa si Summa . Instant Mow ~p no~h of C~yon Driv~ (Co.orate) Entr~c~ ~om S~dy L~ (noRhbonnd) ~eds to be a ~11 di~ond interchange with br~d~d r~ps (se~ ~ey Ro~ pl~). .~ Need better access from B~s Pro to no~hbound SH121. N~ed e~tbound en~ce r~p from Freepo~ (br~ded r~ping). :~ Bett~r access to B~s Pro ~om the no~h. B~R~r access from south to Beth~I (m~nt~n c~nt access). Flower Mound ,, Diamond interchange at Freeport and SH121. Grapevine Southlake Do not put a grade separation at FM2499 and Grapevine Mills. Diamond interchanges at Freeport and Sandy Lake Road. Possibly look at removing signal at Mall entrance on FM2499 and restricting access at this point. This will depend on accident data. Look at adding 8 lanes to FM2499. Southbound SH121 should go next to the mall instead of direct connector at 111635. Southbound SH121 access to Grapevine Mills Mall. Need good access from Bass Pro to eastbound 11-1635. Keep everything at-grade on FM 2499. Direct access from southbound SH121 to SH26 at 11-1635 is fine. Need northbound ramp to Bethel Road. Consider a frontage road box at 151635 with the direct connectors in order to improve access to Bass Pro. Leave in northbound access ramp to William D. Tare Look at eastbound exit from SH 114 to Main Street. Need access tom LP 382 from westbound SH114 and DlmvV airport. Need service roads on northwest side. LP382 needs to be treated as a major arterial. Need westbound exit to Main Street. Look at putting X-ramp configuration or braided ramps on both sides of SH114. Want direct connector from FM1709 to SH114 just east of Kimball Road. Need good connection to southbound SH121 and SH360. Possibly look at direct connector in westbound direction only. Colleyville · Need connection from SH26 to/from SH121 and SH360. · Need access from direct connectors to/from frontage road. · Need access from William D. Tate to SH121 and SH360. SH 114/121 NORTH SECTION - JANUARY 2000 SH 114/121 MIDDLE SECTION JANUARY 2000 Traffic Count Data