NTTA Board Chooses Alignment for Dallas North Tollway Extension

At its regularly scheduled July meeting, the NTTA Board of Directors chose an alignment for the Phase 4B/5A extension of the Dallas North Tollway.  The selected alignment straddles the Collin-Denton county line and extends 11.9 miles from FM 423 in Collin County to FM 121 in Grayson County.   

“Though planned for well in the future, both Denton and Collin counties will benefit from the economic development associated with NTTA roadways,” said NTTA Board Vice Chairman Victor Vandergriff.  “All three alignments studied were comparable in cost and other characteristics.  The county alignment provided a greater economic development benefit for more of the region, requires less right of way and follows an existing county road system.”

NTTA followed long-established procedures to study three possible alignments, as well as a no-build alternative, and used established criteria to evaluate characteristics of each alternative. The three alignment alternatives studied were:

• A West Alternative through Denton County with the terminus in Pilot Point
• A Middle Alternative through southern Collin County and north along the Collin/Denton county line
• An East Alternative north through Collin County and the Town of Celina

The DNT extension project is divided into two sections. Phase 4A would extend from U.S. 380 to FM 428. Phase 4B/5A would extend north of FM 428. The alignment selected by the NTTA Board of Directors is part of Phase 4B/5A.

Since October 2009, the corridor management team has conducted eight work group meetings with public and elected officials. An executive work group was comprised primarily of elected and public officials. A technical work group was comprised primarily of public officials within government and agency transportation or engineering departments. Public meetings were held on March 9 and 11, 2010 in Collin and Denton counties. Approximately 700 people attended the meetings. In addition, more than 300 public comments were received.

A formal public hearing regarding the complete schematic design and environmental evaluation is expected early next year.

The North Texas Tollway Authority has continued to extend the original Dallas North Tollway for several decades as communities to the north have continued to grow and request expansions. The high growth rate in both Collin and Denton counties, along with input from both counties, encouraged the NTTA to continue the extensions further north.  When complete, the 4B/5A extension will be a limited access toll road with six main lanes and four frontage road lanes and is expected to cost $864 million.

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