North Texas Tollway Authority -- Driving Forward - A monthly customer newsletter
October 2007
visit www.ntta.org

Northern Extension of Tollway Opens on Sept. 28

The highly anticipated Phase 3 extension of the Dallas North Tollway, extending from State Highway 121 to U.S. 380, will open to traffic on Friday, Sept. 28. The 9.6-mile stretch of roadway, with an estimated project cost of $264 million, will include three traffic lanes in each direction. Though some construction will continue after the opening, the NTTA understands the importance of improving mobility and wanted to open this crucial link to the Metroplex as soon as possible.

“The citizens of Frisco, Collin and Denton counties have long anticipated the development of this extension of the Dallas North Tollway. Its opening on Sept. 28th will mark another important milestone for the NTTA in this our tenth anniversary year,” said Paul N. Wageman, Chairman of the NTTA Board of Directors. “We’re confident the road will enhance mobility throughout the area while furthering the development of the region’s economy.”

Read more

 

New Toll Rates Go Into Effect On September 29

NOW is the perfect time to get a TollTag!

Of course you are a loyal customer so you know the benefits, but make sure to spread the news to your friends, family and coworkers!

The NTTA is a public agency at the forefront of technology and customer service, committed to improving mobility, the economy and the quality of life in the North Texas region. To continue to do so and to offset the cost of inflation, it is now necessary to raise rates.

New rates on the Dallas North Tollway and the President George Bush Turnpike go into effect on September 29. The NTTA Board of Directors approved this increase in November of 2006 as part of a new tolling policy.

Read more

 

State Highway 121 Project Agreement Completed

In the true spirit of teamwork, representatives from the Dallas District of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) have finalized a historic project agreement. The NTTA will develop, finance, design, construct, maintain and operate State Highway (SH) 121 from McKinney to Coppell for the next 50 years. Staff representatives of the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) participated in the negotiation of the major terms of the project agreement and quantified the anticipated public benefit.

On Aug. 23, the Texas Transportation Commission (TTC) approved a Minute Order authorizing TxDOT’s Executive Director to enter into the project agreement with the NTTA, subject to environmental clearance of Segments 1 through 4 of the SH 121 toll project. TxDOT expects that clearance very soon.

Read more

 

Three New Members Join NTTA Board; Three Current Members Reappointed

Three new members officially joined the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) board of directors at their monthly meeting on September 19. Dr. Robert (Bob) E. Day, Jr., Dallas County appointee, and Victor Vandergriff, Tarrant County appointee, will fill the new seats created under Senate Bill (SB) 964. Michael (Mike) Nowels, Denton County appointee, joins the board replacing the board’s outgoing vice-chairman Jack Miller.

Three current members of the board of directors, David (Dave) R. Denison, William (Bill) W. Meadows and Robert (Bob) K. Shepard, were reappointed by Denton County, Tarrant County and Governor Rick Perry, respectively, to serve two-year terms.

Read more

 

 

Progress continues on the south end of the Tollway

Motorists are enjoying a smoother commute on the south end of the Tollway thanks to the new concrete paving northbound from Wycliff to Maple Avenues. In the middle of October, crews will be moving both northbound and southbound traffic onto newly completed portions of the roadway from I-35E to just north of Wycliff Avenue. This will move more northbound traffic onto new paving and place southbound traffic onto new paving for the first time during this project. This will include the new portion of the Tollway’s bridge over Oak Lawn Avenue.

Read more

Overnight Closures of Mountain Creek Lake Bridge Needed

The NTTA’s Mountain Creek Lake Bridge in southwest Dallas County will be closed every night from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. until January in order for crews to conduct needed maintenance and repairs.

Crews will remove bridge rail coatings on concrete surfaces and then re-coat those surfaces on the two-lane bridge located between the Oak Cliff section of Dallas and Grand Prairie. This will involve sand blasting resulting in large amounts of dust and limited visibility.

The action to remove the coating was approved by the NTTA Board of Directors in May 2007.

 

Action by Texas Transportation Commission Is Good News for Bush Turnpike Eastern Extension

The Eastern Extension of the President George Bush Turnpike is now closer to breaking ground, following recent action by the Texas Transportation Commission (TTC), the Board that oversees the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).

On August 23, the TTC granted the second and final required approval of a Toll Equity Grant to the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) in the amount of $160 million to be used for the acquisition of right of way, relocation, utility adjustments, and related costs and services for the Eastern Extension. The TTC’s Minute Order also authorizes the TxDOT Executive Director to enter into a project agreement with NTTA which includes revenue sharing features.

Read more

 

Sign Up Locations for TollTags Increasing

The availability of TollTags throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area continues to grow as the NTTA looks for new places to provide convenient locations to get a TollTag. Recently added cities where sign up is available at the utility desk include:


City of Carrollton
1945 E. Jackson Road
Carrollton, Texas 75006
972-466-3000
City of Lewisville
151 W. Church Street
Lewisville, TX 75057
972-219-3400

City of Sachse
5560 State Highway 78
972-495-1212

TollTags are readily available at the NTTA Customer Service Center located at 5900 W. Plano Parkway, Suite 200 in Plano, at the NTTA TollTag Store at 12300 Inwood Road, Suite 100 in Dallas, selected Kroger Food Stores, and several local municipalities. To find the outlet nearest you, call the Customer Service Center at 972-818-NTTA (6882) or visit www.ntta.org.

If you are out and about look for the NTTA Tag Wagon, a mobile registration outlet, at special events and festivals in your community.

 

NTTA’s People-Driven Transition to Electronic Toll Collection

When the NTTA’s Board of Directors approved the transition to all electronic toll collection, a major component of the plan included assisting more than 400 toll collection and vault positions to be transitioned into other departments within the NTTA. To date, the NTTA has successfully placed dozens of employees, finding jobs in other areas within the organization and anticipates this number to increase, allowing all employees within the cash toll collection process an opportunity to move to another role.

Read more

 

 

10 Tips for Warm-Weather Driving

Even though summer is officially over, Texans can always expect a couple more months of warm weather. The NTTA’s Command Center staff responds to several break downs that are caused when vehicles aren’t prepared for the Texas heat. Don't let an unexpected breakdown ruin your day or trip.

Read more

RoughRiders’ Fans Celebrate “Get A Tag” Month

As part of the “Get A Tag Month” campaign to promote the benefits of having a TollTag and to celebrate the upcoming grand opening of the Dallas North Tollway extension to U.S. 380, promotional events were held at Dr Pepper Ballpark recently to award a year of paid tolls – courtesy of the Frisco RoughRiders to two lucky fans. Paul Dorn of Carrollton and Josh Robertson of Richardson were announced as the winners.

Read more

 

 

Exclusive offer from F C Dallas

As one of over 1.3 million NTTA TollTag customers you are provided access to special discounts with our various sponsors.

Please click here for a special offer from F C Dallas exclusively available to TollTag customers!

New Trinity Parkway Animation Video Available for Viewing

Ever wonder what the proposed Trinity Parkway in downtown Dallas might look like? NTTA design engineers had the same thought and they have now created a new animation video that shows what the proposed toll road might look like.

The visual aid depicts a preliminary design concept for one proposed alternative for the Trinity Parkway that is currently being evaluated as part of the project’s comprehensive environmental impact study process. That process evaluates alternatives to build, as well as not to build, as required by law. The information that was used to prepare the animation is still under development, and is subject to comment, change, and approval by various federal and state agencies, as well as the Dallas City Council and the NTTA Board of Directors.

To start the three-and-a-half minute animation, click here.

 

 
 

Customer Service Center
972-818-NTTA (6882)

Department of Public Safety/Courtesy Patrol
972-444-HELP (4357)

NTTA Command Center
(214) 224-2203

Emergencies on the Roadway
911

NTTA Administrative Offices
214-461-2000

Current Roadway Conditions and Lane Closures
Driving Conditions

NTTA Web Site
www.ntta.org

Email
talktontta@ntta.org