2009: A Year in Review

The NTTA opened a vital new bridge, delivered seven new miles of critical roadway three months early, transitioned an existing road to all-electronic tolling and selected a new executive director – all in just one year’s time.

And, the NTTA’s list of milestones during 2009 doesn’t stop there: The Authority named and dedicated the Sam Rayburn Tollway (SRT), celebrated the 20th anniversary of the TollTag, welcomed a new Board member, awarded its first design-build contract and held its first business diversity outreach symposium in Tarrant and Collin counties.

The NTTA’s work to improve mobility throughout North Texas and provide safe roadways for its customers continues, and as 2009 comes to a close, here’s a look back at just some of the NTTA’s achievements during the past year:

January
The NTTA, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Texas Historical Commission, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the City of Rowlett, moved the historic Coyle House. The 1918 home was moved to Pecan Grove Park in Rowlett to accommodate construction of the President George Bush Turnpike (PGBT) Eastern Extension, scheduled to open in 2011.

February
The NTTA Board of Directors approved the State Highway (SH) 161 project agreement, which set forth the specifics for the road’s construction and operation. The NTTA is authorized to design and build Phase 4, a 6.5-mile stretch from North Carrier Parkway to Interstate Highway (IH) 20. SH 161 will be operated in perpetuity by the NTTA. In year 53, the NTTA will split net revenue equally with TxDOT. 
 
March
The NTTA Board of Directors chose “Sam Rayburn Tollway” as the new name for the 121 Tollway in Dallas, Denton and Collin counties. The SRT was named in honor of the late congressman from North Texas who represented Texas’ 4th Congressional District for 48 years. "Mr. Sam” was the longest-serving speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

All five sections of the PGBT Eastern Extension were officially under construction by mid-March 2009. The new extension is expected to open to traffic in the fourth quarter of 2011.

April
The NTTA held a series of public meetings and ran radio spots to raise awareness about the PGBT’s transition to all-electronic toll collection, known as all-ETC. The overriding message to customers was that they should keep moving because motorists who do not have a TollTag will be sent a bill in the mail.

May
Approximately 450 people attended an open house and public hearing about the Trinity Parkway corridor project in Dallas. The event was coordinated by the NTTA in cooperation with TxDOT. Eight alternatives were presented for the proposed project that would extend from the IH 35E/SH 183 interchange to the U.S. 175/SH 310 interchange to the south for approximately nine miles.

June
On June 1, 2009, the NTTA’s new executive director, Allen Clemson, joined the staff after a comprehensive national search. Clemson formerly was the special assistant to the vice chancellor of the University of North Texas Dallas Campus, where he oversaw finance and administration. He also previously served as administrator of Dallas County from 1985 to 2009.

The NTTA held its first business diversity vendor outreach symposium in Fort Worth in June 2009 to promote Southwest Parkway (SWP) contracting opportunities to minority, women, small and disadvantaged business vendors. Leading up to the event, NTTA Business Diversity Department staff members were busier than ever. They, along with SWP corridor management, participated in the Fort Worth Entrepreneur Expo and Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson’s Infrastructure Stimulus Update in Dallas to promote the SWP project.

The NTTA’s new Wrong-Way Driver Task Force met for the first time on June 25, 2009, in response to a spate of incidents on the Dallas North Tollway (DNT) involving intoxicated drivers.

The NTTA formally dedicated the SRT with help from several generations of the public servant’s family. Members of the extended Rayburn family unveiled a plaque to commemorate the corridor’s name change from the 121 Tollway and celebrate the namesake’s devoted service to this region.

NTTA legislation, authored by Sen. John Carona as Senate Bill 882 and sponsored in the House by Rep. Charlie Geren during the 81st Texas Legislative Session, became law on June 19. The bill grants the NTTA the same toll collection and enforcement powers held by the TxDOT and other local toll project entities.  The legislation also addresses flexibility in design-build stipends to unsuccessful proposers whose contracts exceed $50 million.  SB 882 also standardizes ethics provisions drawn from the Penal Code that are applicable to other governmental entities. 

July
The PGBT became an all-ETC roadway on July 1, 2009. Beginning at 12:01 a.m. that day, cash was no longer accepted in the lanes on the PGBT. TollTag users’ payment method remained the same. Motorists without TollTags – known as ZipCash customers – kept driving and were billed for their transactions at the higher ZipCash rate.

The NTTA installed additional countermeasures in July 2009 to prevent wrong-way driving, fitting all DNT ramps with reflective buttons in the shape of large arrows. Motorists going the right way notice white buttons pointing the correct way. If a driver is going the wrong way, the buttons will reflect red and the arrow will point in the opposite direction. The NTTA also added red reflective tape on all “Wrong Way” and “Do Not Enter” posts and added more “Wrong Way” and “Do Not Enter” signs on its roads. The NTTA also worked with the Texas Department of Public Safety and local police to increase patrols during late-night hours and other periods when drunken driving is more likely.

August
The NTTA opened the Lewisville Lake Toll Bridge (LLTB) on Aug. 1, 2009, creating an east-west connection between IH 35E and the DNT. Before cars were allowed on the bridge, the NTTA helped host a community-led 5K run and family fun walk that gave pedestrians one-time access to the bridge. The LTTB boasts a semi-circular arch near its center. The bridge deck sits 52 feet above the Lewisville Lake spillway so that the top of the arch soars 118 feet above the lake surface.

SH 161 opened to traffic in time for football season at the new Dallas Cowboys stadium in Arlington. Though currently a TxDOT road, the NTTA installed the tolling equipment and is currently operating the road.

The NTTA Board approved its largest single contract to date – $414 million – to construct Phase 4 of SH 161. The contract was the NTTA’s first design-build contract, a project delivery method that saves time by allowing construction to begin before design is complete. Phase 4 is a 6.5-mile stretch from North Carrier Parkway to IH 20. The project includes the main lanes north of IH 30 to IH 20, the interchange at IH 30 and the interchange at IH 20. This segment is expected to open in the third quarter of 2012.

September
The NTTA fully opened a new seven-mile extension of the SRT, known as Segment 3, three months ahead of the completion date in the Authority’s project agreement with TxDOT. The six new lanes extend from Hillcrest Road to Hardin Boulevard in Collin County and feature all-electronic tolling. The opening rounded out nearly 23 miles of a vital corridor needed for improved mobility in North Texas.

The NTTA joined Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) in September 2009 to spotlight the dangers of drunken driving and, in turn, enhance safety on NTTA roadways. The NTTA and MADD launched the initiative in response to a series of wrong-way incidents on the DNT caused by intoxicated motorists. “The safety of our roads is the NTTA’s top priority, and we are committed to doing everything we can to prevent wrong-way drivers,” NTTA Executive Director Allen Clemson said.

The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association recognized the NTTA for its sustainability initiatives with the 2009 Toll Excellence Award in Social Responsibility. The NTTA was honored for its sustainability initiatives that combine safety and efficiency with long-term environmental accountability.

The NTTA was recognized for its technological initiatives and awarded the Technology Adopter Award at the 9th Annual Tech Titans and Titan Fast Tech Awards. Sponsored by the Metroplex Technology Business Council, the largest technology trade organization in Texas, the awards recognize outstanding technology companies and individuals in the North Texas area who have made significant contributions to the industry during the past year.

October
New Board member Bill Moore joined the NTTA as one of two Collin County appointees, replacing former Director Gary Base. Moore owns W Moore Project Consultants Inc. in Plano and is a registered professional engineer. He primarily works with manufacturing companies, managing engineering and capital investment projects. Previously, he worked in consumer products manufacturing in engineering and operations. He also worked for Frito-Lay Inc. for 23 years.

The NTTA held a vendor outreach symposium in Dallas to increase outreach efforts and engage disadvantaged minority, women and small businesses in the process of working with the NTTA. It was the fourth such symposium conducted by the NTTA.

November
After months of planning and preparing, Phase 4 of the SH 161 corridor project commenced with the kick-off of the design process. The NTTA issued the notice to proceed for the design portion of the Phase 4 design-build project after TxDOT and the FHWA verified that the NTTA had awarded the contract in accordance with state and federal guidelines.

December
To help improve safety on NTTA roadways and update motorists on the latest safety information, the NTTA launched its new Safe-T Buzz campaign with a town hall meeting on Dec. 15, 2009, at the NTTA’s headquarters in Plano. NTTA safety experts offered tips on how to keep families safe – whether it’s spotting possible drunken drivers or checking tires for tread wear and proper inflation. The meeting was held during the busy holiday season since holiday celebrations often involve alcohol.

In December 2009, the NTTA Board awarded the construction contract to build the SRT/DNT interchange in the cities of Frisco and Plano. The construction will add a fourth and fifth level to the existing three-level interchange through the construction of eight direct-connect bridges between the SRT and the DNT. The construction also involves adding new ramp access to the Legacy Business Park area and making local access improvements near the new SRT/DNT interchange.