Government Relations Update
 The North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) is expanding its focus to the federal level as national attention has grown over the transportation funding shortfall seen throughout the United States. With the waning value of the gas tax and diversions of funds allocated to transportation going to other state and federal programs, elected leadership at the local, state and federal levels are looking to tolls as a sustainable source of revenue to finance and construct critical infrastructure. As a member of the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA), the NTTA has a been a leader in toll technology throughout the world and will continue to share its innovative solutions with its industry partners, as well as legislative and Congressional leaders to aid in identifying ways to get important projects built that will best serve the citizens of north Texas.
The NTTA continues its work with local and state officials to move forward on several important projects in the Metroplex, including Southwest Parkway in Tarrant County, SH 121 in Collin, Dallas and Denton Counties, the Eastern Extension of the President George Bush Turnpike in Dallas County and Lewisville Lake Toll Bridge in Denton County and the Trinity Parkway near downtown Dallas. The NTTA is also working with its partners at the Texas Department of Transportation and corridor cities on the market valuation process for SH 161.
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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.”
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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.
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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.
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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.
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NTTA Board Authorizes Project Development Contracts on 3 New Regional Roads
 At a regularly scheduled board meeting on Sept. 19, the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) Board of Directors unanimously authorized project development services for State Highway (SH) 170 from SH 114 to IH 35W in Denton and Tarrant counties; SH 360 from Green Oaks Boulevard to United States (U.S.) 287 in Ellis, Johnson and Tarrant counties, and the Dallas North Tollway (DNT) Phases 4 and 5 in Collin and Grayson counties.
The services for these projects were authorized to further the environmental clearance process for each corridor and fast track project development. Each contract will encompass preliminary concept development and analysis, schematic design, environmental documentation and public involvement support.
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SH 161 Discussions Continue
 The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) have met multiple times over the last month and a half to discuss plans for SH 161 in west Dallas County. TxDOT has provided the NTTA staff with some preliminary business rule assumptions and construction costs for evaluation. The NTTA is drafting a schedule to complete the valuation process. Both TxDOT and NTTA have committed to completing the process in the next few months so construction can move forward by NTTA or the private sector through a Comprehensive Development Agreement (CDA).
As planned, SH 161 will extend from the western end of the President George Bush Turnpike near SH 183 southward through Irving and Grand Prairie to Interstate Highway 20. SH 161 is subject to the market valuation process outlined in Senate Bill 792.
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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:
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City of Carrollton
1945 E. Jackson Road
Carrollton, Texas 75006
972-466-3000 |
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City of Lewisville
151 W. Church Street
Lewisville, TX 75057
972-219-3400 |
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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NTTA Leadership Can Be Seen and Heard…
Collin County Chambers Regional Transportation Summit, Thursday, October 25, 7:00 a.m. To register, contact Joe Skibbie at joes@planochamber.org.
North Dallas Chamber of Commerce Transportation Crossroads Conference, Wednesday, October 31, 7:30 a.m. To register, contact Carol Short at cshort@ndcc.org.
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