State Highway 121 Southwest Parkway Fort Worth s Transportation Success Story in Design and Cooperation Greater Fort Worth Association of Realtors October 24, 2007 Presented by: Dan Lamers, P.E. North Central Texas Council of Governments www.nctcog.org/trans/presentations/index.asp
State Highway 121 Southwest Parkway Presentation Highlights NCTCOG and Mobility 2030 Project History Project Overview Project Goals Corridor Master Plan Project Status Corridor Maps
North Central Texas Council of Governments Who Are We? NCTCOG Established to Assist in Planning for Common Needs; Cooperating for Mutual Benefit; and Coordinating for Sound Regional Development NCTCOG's Purpose is to Strengthen Both the Individual and Collective Power of Local Governments and to Help Them Recognize Regional Opportunities; Eliminate Unnecessary Duplication; and Make Joint Decisions Administratively Executive Board and Executive Director Eight Departments
NCTCOG Serves as the Metropolitan Planning Organization NCTCOG, through its Transportation Department, is the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) that conducts regional transportation planning in North Central Texas. MPO Activities are Lead by: NCTCOG Executive Board (Fiscal Administration) Regional Transportation Council (Policy Administration) Several Technical Committees Major Responsibilities Include: Metropolitan Transportation Plan Transportation Improvement Program Congestion Management Process Air Quality Conformity Unified Planning Work Program
Benefit/Cost Ratio of Plan: 1.51
Southwest Parkway Project History 1962 A radial freeway through the southwest quadrant of Fort Worth is first identified in the Fort Worth Metropolitan Area Thoroughfare Plan. 1974 Texas Highway Commission approves Route A between I.H. 35W/S.H. 121 and F.M. 1187, and the corridor is added to the Federal Aid Highway System. Mid 1970 s TxDOT funding shortages cause deferment of Route A and right-of-way preservation is abandoned. Early 1980 s Fort Worth Cultural District emerges. 1984 A revised corridor east of the Cultural District is proposed and incorporated into the Southwest Fort Worth Subarea Study.
Southwest Parkway Project History 1987 TxDOT begins preparation of environmental studies on the Green Alternative, an 8-lane freeway north of I.H. 20 and a 4/6-lane freeway from I.H. 20 to U.S. 67. 1991 S.H. 121 Task Force is created to help reduce construction costs and deal with funding restructuring due to the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA). 1994 S.H. 121 Task Force recommends that a toll road is the most viable option for the corridor. 1997 North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) completes a traffic and revenue study indicating that a 6-lane toll road is feasible from I.H. 30 to Alta Mesa Boulevard. 1999 Section between S.H. 121/I.H. 35W and I.H. 30 removed from Mobility 2025. 2000 City of Fort Worth, NTTA, and TxDOT sign and execute the Tri- Party Agreement.
Southwest Parkway Project History 2000 City of Fort Worth, NTTA, and TxDOT sign and execute the Tri- Party Agreement. 2003 Upon recommendation by the Project Development Team (PDT), Fort Worth City Council adopts Alternative C/A as the locally preferred alternative and creates the Citizens Advisory Group (CAG) to facilitate ongoing community input. 2004 CAG develops the Southwest Parkway Nature and Character Plan which is incorporated into the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). 2005 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issues a Record of Decision (ROD) for the FEIS. 2006 Fort Worth City Council, NTTA, and TxDOT approve the Corridor Master Plan (CMP). 2007 Right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation, and arterial street construction is well underway.
Project Overview Total project length = 29 miles (I.H. 30 to U.S. 67) 6-lane toll road from I.H. 30 to Alta Mesa Blvd. 4-lane toll road from Alta Mesa Blvd. to U.S. 67 I.H. 30 Interchange Features a. Southwest Pkwy. direct access to/from: 1. I.H. 30 East 2. Forest Park Blvd. 3. Summit Avenue 4. Downtown Fort Worth (Lancaster Avenue; Cherry/Macon Street) b. Reduced vertical profile to lessen noise and visual impacts to surrounding neighborhoods
Project Overview I.H. 20 Interchange Features a. Southwest Pkwy. direct access to/from: 1. I.H. 20 in both directions 2. S.H. 183 West (to/from the south only) b. Noise wall and additional screening provided at the Fort Worth Country Day School Other Interchanges (Tarrant County) a. University Drive g. Oakmont Blvd. b. Rosedale Avenue h. Dirks Road/Alta Mesa Blvd. c. Montgomery Street i. Sycamore School Road d. Clear Fork Crossing j. McPherson Road e. Arborlawn Drive k. F.M. 1187 f. Overton Ridge Blvd.
Project Overview Total project cost = $1.642 billion a. $944 million I.H. 30 to Alta Mesa Blvd. b. $698 million Alta Mesa Blvd. to U.S. 67 c. City of Fort Worth responsible for $143.7 million of project cost (fixing) including: 1. Right-of-way/relocation 2. Utility relocation 3. Arterial street construction 4. Enhancements 5. Trinity River projects Toll rate = $0.16 per mile (2010) a. $1.40 I.H. 30 to Alta Mesa Blvd. b. $3.05 Alta Mesa Blvd. to U.S. 67 Speed limit = 50 MPH (north of I.H. 20)
Project Goals Improve regional mobility, air quality, and safety. Address growing congestion in southwestern Tarrant County and northern Johnson County. Incorporate context-sensitive design that balances needs of adjacent residents and natural assets with mobility goals. Meet design and community cohesion objectives as specified by the Citizens Advisory Group (CAG) and the Corridor Master Plan (CMP). Complement the City of Fort Worth s Trinity River Vision Plan.
Project Goals Corridor Master Plan (CMP) a. Comprehensively defines the roadway, landscape, and public art elements, bridge and wall materials, and appearances based on the Nature and Character Plan. b. Creates a safe, attractive, and efficient parkway. c. Protects and enhances the environmental quality of the project area ( treading lightly on the land ). d. Develops a coordinated design theme that maintains a unified appearance of each discrete section and provides a seamless transition between sections. e. Facilitates existing and planned bicycle and pedestrian routes where possible. f. Identifies corridor features that are cost-effective, easy to implement, and easy to maintain.
Corridor Master Plan (CMP) (www.sh-121t.org)
Corridor Master Plan (CMP)
Corridor Master Plan (CMP)
Corridor Master Plan (CMP)
Project Status Under Senate Bill (SB) 792, NTTA has guaranteed right to construct Southwest Parkway from I.H. 30 to Alta Mesa Boulevard. SB 792 allows NTTA to perform market evaluation for possible bidding on Southwest Parkway from Alta Mesa Boulevard to U.S. 67. NTTA proposal for construction/operation of S.H. 121 in Collin/Denton Counties will not affect Southwest Parkway construction schedule. NTTA Board approves all-electronic tolling for all facilities, effective by May 2010.
Project Status (as of July 2007) 52 of 58 right-of-way parcels have been acquired by the City of Fort Worth. 56 of 75 business relocations negotiated. 34 parcels have been cleared through the City of Fort Worth s Demolition Program. All utilities owned by the City of Fort Worth to be relocated by January 2009. Arborlawn Drive will be complete and Stonegate Boulevard construction will begin by Fall 2007. Dimensions of neighborhood sound walls and screening continue to be negotiated.
Project Status Southwest Parkway Construction Schedule: (as presented to the Fort Worth City Council July 2007)
State Highway 121 Corridor Maps
State Highway 121 Corridor Maps
State Highway 121 Corridor Maps
State Highway 121 Corridor Maps
State Highway 121 Corridor Maps
State Highway 121 Corridor Maps
State Highway 121 Corridor Maps
State Highway 121 Corridor Maps
State Highway 121 Corridor Maps
State Highway 121 Corridor Maps
State Highway 121 Corridor Maps
State Highway 121 Corridor Maps
Any Questions? Jeffrey C. Neal Principal Transportation Planner NCTCOG (817) 608-2345 jneal@nctcog.org