NTTA Board of Directors approves TxDOT MOU and Tolling Services Agreement

Last month, the NTTA Board of Directors approved execution of three documents that follow up on the commitments put in place in the Regional Protocol approved by the Board in August. Those documents include an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Comprehensive Development Agreements (CDA); an MOU on planning and development of toll roads in the region; and a Tolling Services Agreement for operations of State Highway 121 in Collin and Denton Counties. The MOUs clearly state the importance of the NTTA's role in the region and the contributions the Authority will continue to make towards regional mobility. The agreement also demonstrates to the private sector that the NTTA can be timely and competitive, as we continue to look out for the best interests of our customers. Ultimately, the agreement allows the region and its drivers to get the most return on investments in toll roads throughout North Texas.

To implement the planning MOU, we have stablished a working group of roadway agencies to look at the first five projects the NTTA will be reviewing for feasibility, timing and delivery methods. We continue to work with our state and regional partners to decide how best to deliver the next round of projects to our North Texas customers.

NTTA Gears Up for the 80th Legislature

In late October, the NTTA launched a series of outreach meetings in Austin aimed at educating DFW legislators and their staffs on the NTTA’s legislative platform. The meetings are designed to inform members and their staffs of recent North Texas events impacting the development of toll roads in the region. While the NTTA has not formally approved its legislative agenda for the upcoming session, several items are being considered to improve the operations of the NTTA and better serve its customers. Additional legislative outreach meetings are scheduled for November and December.

For more information, please contact Carrie Rogers, Intergovernmental Relations Manager, at crogers@ntta.org.

Dallas North Tollway South End Construction

The rehabilitation project of the south end of the DNT is a $53 million project – greater than the original cost to build the first section of the Tollway. The south end of the DNT has reached the end of its life span. Most roadway pavements last approximately 25 years. The DNT has held up for nearly 40 years due to our roadway maintenance, but even with this effort, the roadway is now showing its age and is in need of repair. The project is more than just rehabilitation; new ramps are being constructed to Oak Lawn Avenue and a new state-of-the-art toll plaza will span the roadway providing flexibility into the future. We have made every effort to limit the amount of inconvenience to our customers; our maintenance and construction crews are working day and night to help speed up completion of the project.

Beginning in mid-December, the Wycliff mainline plaza will be reduced to two express lanes and two cash lanes for both the northbound and southbound DNT. This should last approximately 8 months and is required to reconstruct the existing plaza lanes. Significant completion of this project is expected in spring 2008. For more information on this and other projects, please go to www.ntta.org.

NTTA Board Approves Toll Rate Increase New Rates to take effect by September 2007

On November 15th, the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) Board of Directors took action to begin the process of increasing toll rates on NTTA owned and operated roads. During their regularly scheduled monthly meeting, held at The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, the NTTA Board passed a resolution "adopting rates for 2007 and 2010 (Dallas North Tollway [DNT] System) and an annual compounded growth rate to govern future rate increases."

Beginning in September 2007, toll rates will increase on the DNT and the President George Bush Turnpike (PGBT). TollTag customers, who currently pay 60 cents at the main toll plazas, will pay 70 cents. Cash customers who currently pay 75 cents will pay $1. The differential between a TollTag and cash transaction will increase the savings to the TollTag customer and better reflect the real costs of cash collection. In addition, the rate increase has been postponed on the DNT Wycliff Main Plaza until the construction is complete in 2008.

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Southwest Parkway

Progress continues on the Southwest Parkway project (extending from IH 30 in Fort Worth to Dirks Road/Altamesa Boulevard). Design is approximately 50% complete as our team of consultants work closely with the City of Fort Worth and TxDOT to advance the project to construction. Later this month, the NTTA Board will consider the project feasibility and the potential of constructing the Southwest Parkway as our first all electronic toll collection (ETC) project. The Southwest Parkway is expected to be open to traffic in late-2010. All project partners continue to work together to assure the Southwest Parkway is built on schedule and is a valuable, safe and attractive roadway for our customers. For more information on this and other projects, please go to www.ntta.org.