2021-094 Electric Line Undergrounding StrategyNovember 5, 2021 Report No. 2021-094
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT: Electric Line Undergrounding Strategy
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Identify major corridors that can be cleaned up by undergrounding electric infrastructure and
include estimated costs. DME initially identified 31 potential roadway corridors in Denton that could be evaluated for potential overhead to underground electric facility conversion. DME selected five high-profile
locations for more detailed review and cost estimations. The total estimated cost to convert the
five areas identified for potential conversion is $38.74M.
DISCUSSION:
To determine which corridors in Denton might be preferred candidates for the conversion of overhead distribution facilities to underground, DME Engineering requested from COD Engineering input as to which roadways they consider entrances to the city. COD Engineering responded with thirty-one (31) roadways that fall under the category. DME Engineering retrieved
traffic volume data from the North Central Texas Council of Governments as well as the Texas
Department of Transportation and identified, for each roadway, its traffic volume. Two roadways, IH35 and FM2499 did not have traffic volume study numbers available for the test period (2019) and were not considered for this analysis. The roadways were then sorted from the highest to least traffic volume.
After the initial sort, two additional subjective criteria were applied. The first was to accept the roadway as entrance into the City (Y/N); then if the segment was a “banner” entrance (Y/N). To qualify as a “banner” entrance the roadway must truly introduce the traveler to either the City’s downtown core or be a path to shopping and restaurant venues. A few of the roadways identified
in the initial evaluation sort did not have distribution circuits along them or the length of existing
distribution was relatively short; therefore, these roadways were passed over and others added for consideration due to their impact to aesthetics. Providing a detailed review and cost estimation to convert overhead facilities to underground for
all 31 corridors was deemed too large of a task to handle with available resources in a timely
manner. Therefore, DME Engineering focused on five major corridors which met the criteria mentioned above, and presented in Table 1, that would have the most significant aesthetic impact. # Roadway From To Estimated Cost
1 US 77 (Dallas Dr) I-35E Johnson St $7.80M
2 Loop 288 University Audra $9.87M
3 E McKinney St Loop 288 Railroad Ave $9.77M
4 US 380 Bonnie Brae St Carroll Blvd $3.95M
5 US 77 Loop 288 Bolivar St $7.34M
November 5, 2021 Report No. 2021-094
# Roadway From To Estimated Cost
Total $38.74M
Table 1
DME Engineering evaluated the existing overhead distribution facilities along each of these five corridors – see attachments 1 through 5 – and estimated the cost based on total line footage as
using recent history of actual costs for similar projects.
If DME is directed to move forward with these projects, detailed Engineering designs would be initiated to identify actual below-grade site conditions and availability of land rights necessary for each segment to further refine the estimates for each project. Given the scope of work for each
project and current workload levels for DME Engineering, it is likely engineering consultant(s) for
design, easement acquisition, and project management services would need to be engaged with an approximate timeline of ten years to complete. Consultant costs are not included in the estimates. There is a significant amount of non DME-owned overhead communication (telephone and cable)
lines that would need to be converted to underground to fully attain the cleaner corridor look. The
estimates above do not include any estimated costs for converting these existing overhead communication lines to underground. These estimates do not include any cost escalation factors, which would be applicable to multi-
year projects.
CONCLUSION:
DME staff is providing this information in response to Council priorities identified in 2021. If Council is interested in pursuing any or all these projects, staff would recommend that a 2-minute
pitch be requested so that the full Council can weigh in on this topic.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Roadway 1 - Dallas Drive area 2. Roadway 2 - Loop 288 Area
3. Roadway 3 - McKinney Street area
4. Roadway 4 - US Hwy 380 area 5. Roadway 5 - US77/Elm St area
STAFF CONTACT: Jerry Fielder – DME Engineering Division Manager
REQUESTOR: Jesse Davis – City Council District 3
PARTICIPATING DEPARTMENTS:
DME Engineering
November 5, 2021 Report No. 2021-094
STAFF TIME TO COMPLETE REPORT: Approximately 130 hours of DME Engineering staff time was expended to compile this report.
ALEGRE VISTA
CENTRE PLACECENTRE PLACE
TEASLEY
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
MILLMILLINDUSTRIALJOHNSON
CHAMBERS
KERLEY
HILL
PRIVATE
SANTA FE
SANTA FE
KENWOOD
PIPING ROCK
I-35E SERVICE RD
RUIDOSA
LAREDO
PRIVATE
DAUGHERTYPRIVATEPRIVATEPRIVATE
RIO GRANDE
PRIVATE
RAMEY
SCOTT
LINCOLNSMITH
KERLEY
MORSE
HILL
SIMMONSINMANPRIVATEPRIVATEPRIVATEPRIVATEPRIVATEPRIVATEPRIVATEPRIVATEPRIVATEPRIVATEPRIVATESAM BASS
SAN GABRIEL
DUNCAN
S I-35E Ramp
I-35E
PRIVATE
PRIVATEPRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
OLMOS CREEK
I-35E SERVICE RD
I-35E SERVICE RD
I-35E
ANGELINA BEND
GUADALUPE
RIO GRANDE
PRIVATE
SAN GABRIEL
TRAVIS
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATEPRIVATE
PHOENIX
KENWOOD
TRAVIS
HOPKINS
PRIVATE
TEASLEY
TEASLEY
SANTA FE
PUBLIC ALLEY JOHNSON
SHADY OAKS
DALLAS
DUNCAN
SMITH
MINOR
JOHNSON
SMITH
DALLAS
REED
CLIFTONCHAMBERSCHAMBERS
HILL
SCOTT
KERLEY
CLIFTON
HILL
SCOTT
MCDONALD
LINCOLN
HILL
BOARDWALK
DUNCAN
COOKSIMMONS
PARK
SIMMONS JOHNSON
MORSE
EAGLE
MORSE
CROSS TIMBER INDUSTRIAL COOKMILLWYE
ROBERTSON
ALEGRE VISTA
PRIVATE
MILL
MORSE
DALLAS
SOMBRE VISTA
PRIVATE
PUBLIC ALLEY
MORSE
HILL
RUTH
RUTH MILLS I-35E Ramp
I-35E SERVICE RD
I-35EI-35E SERVICE RD
S I-35E Ramp
I-35E SERVICE RD
I-35E SERVICE RD
PRIVATE
COLLINSI-35E I-35E SERVICE RD
I-35E
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
S I-35E Ramp
I-35E SERVICE RD
I-35E
I-35E SERVICE RD
I-35E SERVICE RD
I-35E SERVICE RD
I-35E
I-35E SERVICE RD
S I-35E Ramp
I-35E SERVICE RD
PRIVATE
S I-35E Ramp
I-35E
I-35E
I-35E SERVICE RD
I-35E SERVICE RD
S I-35E Ramp
I-35E SERVICE RD
I-35E SERVICE RD
I-35E SERVICE RD
I-35E SERVICE RD
I-35EI-35E
I-35E SERVICE RDI-35E SERVICE RD I-35ES I-35E RampI-35E SERVICE RD
DALLAS
DALLAS
SAN GABRIEL
DALLAS
PRIVATE
DALLAS DALLASDALLAS DALLAS BELLINMAN
TEASLEY
TEASLEY
TEASLEY
TEASLEY
HOPKINS
PIPING ROCK
DALLASTEASLEY
TEASLEY
DALLAS
DALLAS
DALLAS
DALLAS
RIO GRANDERIO GRANDE
DALLAS
DALLAS
DALLAS
PRIVATEPRIVATE PRIVATEPRIVATE
JACKSON
S I-35E Ramp
TEASLEY
TEASLEY
TEASLEY
TEASLEY
I-35E
S I-35E RampS I-35E Ramp
I-35E SERVICE RD
W
W
W
W WWWW
WW W
WW
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W WW WW W WW
W W W WW W WW WW W W RailroadBridgeJohnsonLC224LC214LC222DBL CKTDallas DrLC232WR213WR221DBL CKTTeasleyWR221LC232LC232Dallas Dr
I-35ESmithTransmissionLine Crossing
LC214, LC222, LC224, LC232, WR213, WR221 OverheadDenton Corridor OH to UG Conversions: Dallas Dr from I-35E to JohnsonLEGEND- Approximately 4750' of overhead primary line (LC222, LC232and WR221) on the North side of Dallas Dr.- Approximately 4350' of overhead primary line (LC224, LC232,and WR221) on the South side of Dallas Dr.- 73 primary distribution poles and equipment on both the northand south side of Dallas Dr.- At least 8 primary overhead line crossings.- Approximately 4700' of joint communications are attached tothe North side poles along Dallas Dr.-Approximately 2050' of foreign overhead communication linesand poles on the North and South sides of Dallas Dr.- Approximately 28 OH services would be affected by thisconversion.Foreign OverheadNFeet05001000Joint CommsROADWAY 1 - DALLAS DR AREA
CARDINALCARDINALMCKINNEYHUMMINGBIRDLOOP 288 LOOP 288 LOOP 288LOOP 288
RUSSELL NEWMANMARKET
LOOP 288MCKINNEYAUDRACARDINALCARDINALCARDINALCARDINALLOOP 288 ORIOLE LOOP 288 LOOP 288
HOLLAND
LOOP 288LOOP 288 LOOP 288LOOP 288 LOOP 288 LOOP 288LOOP 288Loop288WWWWWWWWWWOWWWCCCCCWWWWWWWWWOWWWWWWWWWOCCOCOCCCCCWWWWWWWOWWWOWOWWWWWWOWWOOWWWWWWWWWWWCCWWWOCCCCC Loop288AudraMcKinney AR212CC211CC211CC221DBLCKTAR212TransmissionLine Cross
ing
AR212, CC211, CC221 OverheadDenton Corridor OH to UG Conversions: Loop 288 from University to AudraLEGEND- Approximately 5500' of overhead primary line (AR212, CC211, and CC221) on the West andEast sides of Loop 288.- Approximately 77 Primary conductor poles with lighting and distribution equipment.- There are several topped poles used for communications on both sides of Loop 288.- There are no overhead, primary crossings (but some secondary and comms crossings) andminimal underground segments along this stretch of the highway.- The full length of the DME overhead lines on the west side of Loop 288 are shared withforeign communications. - There are approximately 750' of joint comms attached to the overhead poles on the East sideof Loop 288.- About 15 - 20 services, both OH and UG, would be affected.NJoint CommsFeet05001000ROADWAY 2 - LOOP 288 AREA
CARDINALCARDINAL
CARDINAL
CARDINAL
MCKINNEY
PRIVATE
PRIVATEPRIVATE
CAMPBELL
SUMMERWIND
BELLAIRE
MOCKINGBIRD
TROY H. LAGRONETROY H. LAGRONE PRIVATE
PRIVATE
SPRINGTREE
PECAN GROVE
PRIVATE
BELLAIRE
ASPENHILL
MCKINNEY
BOB-O-LINK
MACK
PRIVATE
LANE
MCKINNEY
MCKINNEY
MCKINNEY
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATEPRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
MOCKINGBIRD
BLUEBIRD
PRIVATEPRIVATE
SPRINGTREE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
JOSHUA
PECAN GROVE
PRIVATE JANNIEMCKINNEY
MOCKINGBIRD
HUMMINGBIRD
MACK
PRIVATE
JOSHUA
MONTCLAIR
MONTCLAIR
MCKINNEY
AUDRA
MCKINNEY
MCKINNEY
PRIVATEPRIVATE PRIVATEPRIVATEPRIVATEPRIVATEPRIVATE PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE PRIVATE
MCKINNEY
MCKINNEY
PRIVATE
VINE
WOODROW
Loop288W
WWW
W
WWW WW
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WWW
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MK212MK231MK232McKinneySubstation WoodrowAudraMockingb
ird McKinney
Match lineMatch lineW WW
O
CCMcKinney TransmissionLine Crossing
AUDRA
MCKINNEY
CAMPBELL
OAK
BANNERRAILROAD
SUMMERWIND
BELLMCKINNEY
WOOD
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
BRADSHAW
RUDDELL
CHARLES
DAVIS
ROSEULAND
FOX CREEK
CAMPBELL
MACK
JANNIE
DAVIS
MCKINNEY
MCKINNEY FRAMEHICKORYMCKINNEY
MCKINNEY
FRAME
MACK
MCKINNEY
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
EXPOSITION
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
CRAWFORD
HICKORY
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
HICKORY
BRADSHAW
WOOD
HICKORY
HICKORY
CRAWFORD
HICKORY
EXPOSITIONHICKORY
CRAWFORD
WOOD
OAK
OAK
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
OAK FRAME
BRADSHAW
CRAWFORD
RUDDELL
HETTIE
MCKINNEY
JANNIE
MCKINNEY
MCKINNEY
MACK
PRIVATE
BELLMCKINNEYFRAME
PRIVATE
LONGMEADOW
WOODFORD
KENT
DAVIS
EAGLE NEST
BRADSHAW
DAVIS
RAILROADULAND
LONGMEADOW
RAILROAD
MCKINNEY
AUDRA
LONGMEADOW
RUDDELL
DAVIS
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATEPRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
MCKINNEY
WOOD
WOODROW RailroadTracks
WW
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
WW
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MK232MK232McKinneySubstationWoodrowAudraBradshawMcKinneyMatch lineMatch lineMK212, MK231, MK232 OverheadDenton Corridor OH to UG Conversions: McKinney from RR tracks to Loop 288LEGEND- Approximately 6400' of overhead primary lines (MK231 and MK232) on the North side of McKinney.- Approximately 2550' of overhead primary lines (MK212 and MK232) on the South side of McKinney.- Approximately 3150' of underground primary lines (MK212 and MK232) on the North side of McKinney.- Approximately 3150' of overhead secondary lines (MK212 and MK232) on the North side of McKinney.- Approximately 6100' of foreign overhead communication lines and poles on the South side of McKinney.- Over 85 distribution poles and equipment with primary conductor and 10+ poles with secondary conductor are installed between the North and South sides of McKinney.- Virtually all of the DME overhead lines share poles with communications including the North side secondary conductor poles (shown in light blue).- Approximately 60 OH services would be affected by the change.MK212, MK232 UndergroundForeign OverheadNNFeet05001000Feet05001000Joint CommsMK212, MK232 Secondary OverheadROADWAY 3 - MCKINNEY STREET AREA
BRYN MAWRUNIVERSITY
WESTWAY
ANNA
HINKLE
CARROLL
UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY
ALICE
UNIVERSITY
CARROLL
SUNSET
ELM
HINKLE
UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY
ANNA
BOLIVAR
BOLIVAR
UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITYUNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY
ALICE
WESTWAY
CARROLL
CARROLL
WESTWAY
BOLIVAR
WESTWAY
CORNELL
SUNSET
CARROLL
SUNSET
SUNSET
CARROLL
DARTMOUTHAMHERSTCORNELLAMHERSTAMHERSTAMHERST
CARROLL
DENISON
ELM
SUNSET
FULTON
WESTWAY
WESTWAY
WESTWAY
UNIVERSITY
COIT
UNIVERSITY
CARROLL
W
W
WW
W
W
WW
WW
W
W
WW
WW
WWWWW
W
W
WWHWY 380HWY 380Carroll BlvdHinkleMaloneNL211BB211UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY
EMERY
EMERY
UNIVERSITY
EMERY
UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY
EMERY
EMERY
EMERY
MALONE
UNIVERSITY
CORNELL
UNIVERSITY
AMHERST
AMHERST
AMHERST
AMHERST
AMHERST
MALONE
MALONE
GEORGETOWN
PRIMROSE
ECTOR
EMERY
GAY
UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY
EMERY
BONNIE BRAE
WW
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
WW
WWW
W
WW
W
WWW
W
WWWWW
HWY 380MaloneEctorBonnie BraeBB211BB211BB213TransmissionLine CrossingBB211, NL211 OverheadBB211, BB221, NL211 UndergroundDenton Corridor OH to UG Conversions: HWY 380 from I-35 to CarrollLEGEND- Approximately 3400' of overhead primary line (BB211 and NL211) on the North side of HWY 380.- 32 Primary conductor poles with lighting and distribution equipment.- Approximately 1700' of overhead secondary line (BB211 and BB213) on the South side of HWY 380.- 18 Secondary conductor poles with lighting and communication equipment.- Approximately 2600' of foreign overhead communication lines and poles on the South side of HWY 380.- Appriximately 750' of foreign overhead communication lines and poles on the North side of HWY 380.- Approximately 3450' feet of joint communications are installed on DME overhead poles on both sides of HWY 380.- Approximately 10 services, OH and UG would be affected by this conversion.BB211, BB213 Secondary OverheadForeign OverheadNNFeet0250500Feet0250500Foreign OverheadROADWAY 4 - US HWY 380 AREA
DORISDORIS
MORIN
BEATRIZ
DONNA
JOYCE
CARROLL
BROOKE
BROOKE
GARDENVIEW
GABE
FALLMEADOW
SKELTONSKELTON
HERCULES
MORIN
NORTHPOINTE
BROOKE
GARDENVIEW
GARDENVIEW
DONNA
JOYCE
BENJIMAN
EVERS
McKAMY
SANTOS
GARDENVIEW
HERCULES
HERCULES
HERMALINDA
ELM
RINEY
EVERS
ELM
ELM
ELM
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
LOOP 288
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
HERCULES
HARDAWAY
RINEY
PRIVATE
LOOP 288
PRIVATE
PRIVATEPRIVATE
MORIN
ASHCROFT
CHAPEL HILL
LINDA
BONNIE BRAE
WINDSOR
CASIEBETH
EUFEMIA
HINKLE
MESQUITE
ELM
RINEY
WINDSOR
WINDSOR
CASIE
MEADOW VIEW
JOYCE
BROOKE
EVERS
FALLMEADOW
CASIE
FALLMEADOW
GARDENVIEW
EVERS
GARDENVIEW
FALLMEADOWFALLMEADOW
ELM
NICOSIA
ROBBIE-O
COBBLESTONE
FALLMEADOW
HERMALINDA
SANTOS
SANTOS
BEATRIZ
SANTOS
TRIPP TRAIL
CHON
BEATRIZ
CONSTANTINA
NICOSIA
CRISOFORO
MORIN
CARRIGAN
CARRIGAN
EUFEMIA
EVAN
COTTON
MEADOWEDGE
BEATRIZ
MEADOWEDGE
MEADOWEDGE
NICOSIA
MORIN
HERCULES
BEATRIZ
ALLISON
HERCULES
HERMALINDA
LOGAN
NICOSIA NICOSIA
BEALL
BEALL
BEALL
BEALL
LOCUSTLOCUSTLOCUSTLOCUSTLOCUSTLOCUST
JOYCE
FALLMEADOW
NICOSIA
RINEY
DEL
DEL
ELM
WINDSOR
ELM
COBBLESTONE
McKAMY
ELM
ELM
WINDSOR
ELM
WINDSOR
ELM
ELM
ELM
BROOKE
BONNIE BRAE
BROOKEBROOKE
PUBLIC ALLEY
RINEY
PUBLIC ALLEY
BROOKE
COBBLESTONE
EVERS
PUBLIC ALLEY
FALLMEADOW
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
HERMALINDA
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
HERMALINDA
FALLMEADOW
NORTHPOINTE
FALLMEADOW
HERMALINDA
HERCULES
HERCULES
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
ELMELM LOOP 288LOOP 288
PRIVATEPRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
LOCUSTLOCUSTLOCUST
ELM
ELMELM
ELM
BONNIE BRAE BONNIE BRAE LOOP 288LOOP 288
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
ANN ARBOR
MEADOWTRAIL
SOLANASOLANASOLANA
SOLANA
GREYSTONE
BECKER
BRENTWOOD
DAVENPORT
CRICKET
CANONGATE
HARDAWAY
SAMUEL
EVERS
WILSON
ROBBIE RUN
JACKSON HOLLOW
CODY
BEALL
CRIMSON
CALVARY
TRINITY
CROWN
ABRAM
HERCULES
RINEY (FUTURE)
TRISTAN
RINEY CONQUESTCHASEMOOR SOVEREIGNTYRENAISSANCETRIUMPHCHIVALRYPARUAMENT
Windsor Loop288CC
C CC CCC
C CC
C
C
C
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C
C CC
C
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S
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S
NL211NL211NL221NL211NL221DBLCKTW
W
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W WW W WWWW WW W WWW W W WWW WWW WNL222WNL213 TransmissionLine CrossingNL211, NL213, NL221, NL222 OverheadNL211, NL221 UndergroundDenton Corridor OH to UG Conversions: Elm from Loop 288 to WindsorLEGENDN- Approximately 2500' of overhead line (NL222) on the North side of Elm.- Approximately 1350' of overhead line (NL213) on the South side of Elm without attached joint comms.- Approximately 5150' of overhead lines (NL211 and NL221) on the South side of Elm with attached joint comms.- Approximately 4100' of underground lines (NL211 and NL221) along the North side of Elm.- About 61 poles, with streetlights and distribution equipment.- Roughly 12 affected services, both overhead and underground.Joint CommsFeet05001000ROADWAY 5 - US77/ELM ST AREA