Bush Turnpike Eastern Extension Moves Forward

NTTA has received authorization to begin the Right of Way purchasing process for the construction of the Eastern Extension of the Bush Turnpike. This is a major milestone to construct the roadway because representatives of NTTA will begin visiting with landowners to make offers for the purchase of land needed to build the extension.

The Eastern Extension of the Bush Turnpike is a proposed 9.9-mile segment from SH 78 in Garland to IH-30. The proposed six-lane toll road will pass through Garland, Sachse and Rowlett and will include a one-mile bridge over Dallas’ Lake Ray Hubbard.

Current plans are to begin construction in 2008 and for the entire road to be open to traffic in 2012.

Listen Up for the NTTA’s ZipCash Campaign

Thanks to the innovation of ZipCash - a drive now pay later option at the Wycliff Avenue Toll Plaza only - drivers are beginning to see how wonderful not having to stop and pay a toll can be. That’s exactly why over the next few months the NTTA will be advertising the benefits to ZipCash customers of converting to TollTags so they can enjoy using the express lanes at all the plazas and ramps.

Spots can be heard on several radio stations, and seen on other media outlets.

You can help too. Remind ZipCash customers of all the TollTag benefits including no invoices, 24/7 account management, three tags per account, and the ability to travel without stopping on any toll road in Texas.

Help us tell our story to ZipCash users to forgo the invoices and become a TollTag customer.

NTTA Submits SH 121 Proposal to Regional Transportation Council

On May 18, the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) delivered its comprehensive public sector proposal for the State Highway (SH) 121 toll project to the North Texas Regional Transportation Council (RTC). The proposal arrived one week earlier than the May 25 deadline requested by the RTC. On May 7, the NTTA Board of Directors unanimously approved the submission to finance, design, construct, operate, and maintain the SH 121 project. As approved, the proposal offers a present value payment of $3.333 billion, consisting of an upfront payment of $2.5 billion and guaranteed annual payments over time equal to $833 million in 2007 dollars. Both the upfront payment and guaranteed annual payments exceed the amounts provided in the private sector CDA proposal.

Read more

Weather Takes A Toll on South End of the Tollway

Mother Nature has been causing some setbacks in the renovation work being done on the south end of the Dallas North Tollway. The rainy weather, in recent weeks, has caused parts of the project to be delayed. In addition, issues with some underground utility relocations as a contributing factor have added to an almost two month delay to selected areas of the project.

Nevertheless, construction crews working in the area continue to make good progress.

Read more

Tollway Extension Phase 3 Through Frisco Headed for an On-time opening in September

Look out Frisco, Prosper and other points north, here we come!

The newest extension of the Dallas North Tollway between SH 121 and US 380 is scheduled to open to traffic in September. Despite some pretty dismal spring time weather, crews are making substantial progress.

The 9.6 mile extension, known as the Dallas North Tollway Extension Phase 3, is nearly 80-percent complete. The roadway will consist of three lanes in each direction.

Read more

From the ground (and water) up: Lewisville Lake Toll Bridge taking shape

Crews working on the west bank and in the waters of Lewisville Lake are shown getting columns ready for concrete placement for the Lewisville Lake Toll Bridge. Scheduled to open in April 2009, the Bridge will serve as an east-west connector between IH-35E and the Tollway.

NTTA Offers TollTag Family Packs

Why stop at one – when you get three for the price of one.

A family pack of TollTags is available for families with multiple cars or for the new driver in the family. Don’t wait to get additional tags or have to stop at the toll booth because you are in the other vehicle without a TollTag. Simply add up to three tags on any account and spread them out amongst the drivers in your family.

Let’s not forget, moving tags from car to car is a Tollway DON’T. So add the extra tags, up to three, at no additional charge today.

Command Center Tells: Our tip of the month

Our Command Center Service Specialists are tasked with the duty of monitoring our roadways and ensuring that traffic flow is seamless and safe. Every month, they will share an informative tip to assist our customers in making safe travel decisions.

Texas Transportation Code 550.022 Section b states the following: If an accident occurs on a main lane, ramp, shoulder, median, or adjacent area of a freeway in a metropolitan area and each vehicle involved can be normally and safely driven, each operator shall move the operator’s vehicle as soon as possible to a designated accident investigation site, if available a location on the frontage road, the nearest suitable cross street, or other suitable location to complete the requirement of Section 550.023 and minimize interference with freeway traffic.

This means, that if you are involved in an accident on the roadway and all vehicles can be moved, please move all vehicles to a safe location and wait for an officer to arrive to complete a crash report.

Thanks for traveling NTTA roadways and be safe!

Look for the Tag Wagon at a Location nearest You

With the warm weather that Texas is known for in the summer months, the NTTA is gearing up to attend several festivals to promote the NTTA to all residents of our four county region. If you have a question or if you simply want to spin the wheel for a prize, stop by when you see the NTTA at festivals in your neighborhood. Upcoming events for the month of June include:

Toad Holler Creekfest, DeSoto,
June 2, 9 a.m. – 10 p.m.
211 E. Pleasant Run Rd.

Read more

Let Us Have It! (Customer Comments Welcome)

A former big city mayor used to constantly ask his constituents, “How (are) we doing?” Good or bad, citizens let him know how they felt… and often.

Well, the NTTA has the same question for our customers. We welcome your thoughts, concerns, questions or just humorous tollway related stories.

If you have something to share, please send it to slopez@ntta.org. If it’s information that others may be interested in, we will include it in future editions of Driving Forward.

• Addison Airport Toll Tunnel
• Dallas North Tollway
• Mountain Creek Lake Bridge
• The President George Bush Turnpike

• The Dallas North Tollway at Wycliff and Oak Lawn Avenue Improvements
• The Dallas North Tollway Extension: Phase 3 (SH 121 to US 380)
• The Dallas North Tollway Extension: Phase 4 (US 380 to Collin/Grayson County Line)
• Lewisville Lake Toll Bridge (LLTB)
• The President George Bush Turnpike: Eastern Extension

• Southwest Parkway (SH 121 from IH 30 to Altamesa Blvd.)
• Trinity Parkway