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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 8, 2003 Agenda AGENDA CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL April 8, 2003 After determining that a quorum is presem, the City Council will convene in a Planning Session of the City of Demon City Council on Tuesday, April 8, 2003 at 4:00 p.m. in the City Council Work Session Room at City Hall, 215 E. McKinney, Denton, Texas at which the following item will be considered: NOTE: A Planning Work Session is used to explore matters of interest to one or more City Council Members or the City Manager for the purpose of giving staff direction imo whether or not such matters should be placed on a future regular or special meeting of the Council for citizen input, City Council deliberation and formal City action. At a Planning Work Session, the City Council generally receives informal and preliminary reports and information from City staff, officials, members of City committees, and the individual or organization proposing council action, if invited by City Council or City Manager to participate in the session. Participation by individuals and members of organizations invited to speak ceases when the Mayor announces the session is being closed to public input. Although Planning Work Sessions are public meetings, and citizens have a legal right to attend, they are not public hearings, so citizens are not allowed to participate in the session unless invited to do so by the Mayor. Any citizen may supply to the City Council, prior to the beginning of the session, a written report regarding the citizen's opinion on the matter being explored. Should the Council direct the matter be placed on a regular meeting agenda, the staff will generally prepare a final report defining the proposed action, which will be made available to all citizens prior to the regular meeting at which citizen input is sought. The purpose of this procedure is to allow citizens attending the regular meeting the opportunity to hear the views of their fellow citizens without having to attend two meetings. Receive an outcome statement and hold a discussion regarding Education and Economic Development in the City of Denton. Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding Transportation issues including the Airport Master Plan. CERTIFICATE I certify that the above notice of meeting was posted on the bulletin board at the City Hall of the City of Demon, Texas, on the day of ,2003 o'clock (a.m.) (p.m.) CITY SECRETARY NOTE: THE CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION ROOM IS ACCESSIBLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. THE CITY WILL PROVIDE SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED IF REQUESTED AT LEAST 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF THE SCHEDULED MEETING. PLEASE CALL THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AT 349-8309 OR USE TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICES FOR THE DEAF (TDD) BY CALLING 1-800-RELAY-TX SO THAT A SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER CAN BE SCHEDULED THROUGH THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE. AGENDA DATE: DEPARTMENT: CM: AGENDA INFORMATION SHEET April 8, 2003 City Manager's Office Mike Conduff, City Manager SUBJECT Receive an outcome statement and hold a discussion regarding Education and Economic Development in the City of Denton. BACKGROUND During a Council Planning Session January 13, 2003, Council discussion focused on Education and Economic Development for the City. Outcome statements from that session were included in the January 24, 2003 reading file to Council, and are now included as agenda backup. If you require any further information, please let me know. Respectfully submitted: Ann Forsythe Executive Secretary to the City Manager 215 E. McKinnes. Street Denton~ Texas 76201 (940) 349-.8306 FAX (94(1) 349-8596 MEMORANDUM DATE: TO: FROM: January 22, ~00_~ Mayor Et. dine Brock and Members ( t: the City Council Michael A, Conduff~ City Manager SUBSECT: Edacafio~ffEcoammk Devek>pmeat Outcomes Folks, congratulations on a great Planning Session on Education and Economic Development! These are the kinds o,f conversations thai really help the city staff fbcus their energies and resources, We appreciate your commitment to the community and your ongoing willingness to invest the time and energy these kinds of conversations require Please review the attached outcome statements from the session, We also captured a few of tlhe things that ~we do not want" in Denton, Both of these are amalgamations of what we thought we heard you say, Obviously, it is important :ibr us to get this part right~ so if there is anything here that does not accurately reflect your collective position, please let me know, Thank Education~Economic Devdopment Outcomes There ~s a High Qaal~ty ~f L~fe ~n Dem~a, w~th a Health3; Economy that ~s Growing Appr~priatdy There are excellent emplo, yment oppommities tha meet the employment needs of the workforce The workik~rce has the education., skills and abilities tha make them employable Citizens and employees in Denton are appropriaely educated There is adequate high quality borg, sing * Residents eIlioy multiple housing options There are high qt~ality business parks There is an appropriate mix ofsmall: medium and large businesses Denton is a known medical desti~mtion The K-~ 2 education is rated as exemplary, and rest,bits in students that are emptoyabl< and/or college bound Productive palners,hips with 'the Academic, Educaional, Governmental, iMedical and Business Community exist c> Economic Development c, Transpo~ation o Legislative c~ Infrastructure ¢':,Fa,ci~i6es o Lif~e~ong Learning o Student Lead Pro}ects c_> Services in the Commm~ity (TWU Cares, etc) The community knows about the positive things that are happening in the academic community o Academi< Fine Arb Perfbrming Art Successes o Student Lead Prqiects What we do not 'want to have in Denton Negative Publicity of the University, Academic or Educational Communities Development and Student Housing that is Tax Exempt Duplication of Services Poor Institutional Relationships 2 AGENDA INFORMATION SHEET AGENDA DATE: DEPARTMENT: ACM: April 8, 2003 Public Safety and Transportation Operations Planning and Developmem Services Jon Fortune, Public Safety and Transportation Operations Dave Hill, Planning and Developmem Services SUBJECT Receive a report, hold a discussion and give staff direction regarding transportation issues including the Airport Master Plan BACKGROUND The attached Transportation Infrastructure "White" Paper provides a comprehensive review of past and current issues and how they relate to the future development of the Denton Airport, public transportation, and surface transportation projects. Staff will make a brief presentation and has invited two speakers to participate in the planning session and the discussion to follow. Mr. Mike Dmyterko, from Coffman and Associates, will presem a summary of the new DeNon Airport Master Plan, and Mr. Charles Emery, Chair of the Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) Executive Committee, will presem a brief overview of County public transportation initiatives. Staff will also be available to answer questions that you may have concerning the surface transportation projects. EXHIBITS White Paper - Transportation Infrastructure Respectfully submitted: Mark Nelson, Director Airport and Transportation Operations City of Denton White Paper TRANSPORTA'I'ZON ZN FRASTRUCTURE April- 2003 Created By: .1on Fortune, Asst. City Manager - Public Safety & Transportation Operations Dave Hill, Asst. City Manager - Development Services Mark Nelson, Director of Airport and Transportation Operations Stan Nixon, Public Transportation Manager Stephen Cook, Planning Policy Coordinator Transportation White Paper April - 2003 Page 1 Table of Contents Glossary of Terms Page 3 Introduction/Context Airport Status of Denton Airport Short Term Program Intermediate and Long Term Programs Public Transportation Background Current Challenges Upcoming Opportunities for Public Transportation Regional Transportation Roadways Local Transportation Policies Transportation Funding Issues Current Projects Completed or Underway Programmed Roadway Projects Regional Roadway Projects Planning Stages 5 5 S 7 9 12 12 12 13 15 17 17 18 19 20 25 Attachments Attachment 1: Airside Development Alternative- Denton Airport Attachment 2: Landside Development Alternative - Denton Airport Attachment 3: Recommended Concept- Denton Airport Attachment 4: Short Term Development Program - Denton Airport Attachment S: Intermediate and Long Term Development Program - Denton Airport Transportation White Paper April - 2003 Page 2 Glossary_ of Terms Coffman Associates DCTA DRMC MPO NCTCOG Airport Master Plan Consulting Firm Developed the :2003 Denton Airport Master Plan. Tnitial work began on the plan in April :2001. The plan was adopted by the Denton Airport Advisory Committee at their meeting on March 1:2, :2003. Denton County Transportation Authority House Bill 33:23 was approved by the 77th Texas Legislature and signed into law by the Governor in :2001. The law allows creation of a Coordinated County Transportation Authority in urban "collar" counties surrounding core counties with populations of 1,000,000 or more, which includes Denton County. The Denton County Commissioners Court initiated the process to form the Denton County Transportation Authority in October :2001. DCTA was approved by general referendum on November 5th, :200:2 with a 73% approval rating countywide. Dallas Regional Mobility Coalition The DRMC is a lobbying coalition serving the transportation interests of the eastern half of the North Texas Metroplex. City and county elected officials, and North Texas transportation providers address regional and state transportation issues. Mayor Pro Tem Mark Burroughs is a member of the coalition. Metropolitan Planning Organization A federally required planning body designated by the governor and local elected officials as responsible, together with the State, for transportation planning in an urbanized area with a population of over 50,000. North Central Texas Council of Governments The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) is a voluntary association of local governments established to assist local governments in planning for common needs, cooperating for mutual benefit, and coordinating for sound regional development. NCTCOG serves a 16-county region of North Central Texas that is centered around the two urban centers of Dallas and Fort Worth. Currently, NCTCOG has 231 member governments including 16 counties, 163 cities, 26 school districts, and 26 special districts. NTrA The NCTCOG Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Dallas- Fort Worth Metropolitan Area is a collaborative structure of committees and organizations creating partnerships to address the region's complex transportation needs. Key players in this organizational structure include: · The NCTCOG Executive Board, which oversees the administrative funds granted to the MPO. · The Regional Transportation Council (RTC), the policy body for the MPO, is comprised of local elected council members, mayors, county commissioners, and transportation provider representatives. · Technical committees that review, comment on, and prepare recommendations for transportation improvements. The Surface Transportation Technical Committee is comprised of city transportation professionals and transportation provider representatives. · The North Central Texas Council of Governments' Transportation Department, which provides support and staff assistance to the RTC and its technical committees. · Citizens of the Region who participate in the planning process through public meetings, workshops, and Listening Sessions. North Texas Tollway Authority The N-I-I-A is a political subdivision of the State of Texas under Chapter 366 of the Transportation Code, and is empowered to acquire, construct, maintain, repair and operate turnpike projects; to raise capital for construction projects through the issuance of Turnpike Revenue Bonds; and to collect tolls to operate, maintain and pay debt service on those projects. RTC Regional Transportation Council The policy body for the NCTCOG MPO, is comprised of local elected council members, mayors, county commissioners, and transportation provider representatives. Mayor Pro Tem Mark Burroughs serves as Denton's RTC member. Transportation White Paper April - 2003 Page SIP State Implementation Plan The State Implementation Plan (SIP) is Texas' plan for complying with the federal Clean Air Act. The SIP consists of narrative, rules, and agreements used to describe the strategy intended to demonstrate conformity with federal air quality regulations. There is only one SIP for Texas, which is constantly revised. The Texas SIP, like that of all states, is required by federal law. STrC Surface Transportation Technical Committee The S-I-I-C is a technical committee that supports IvlPO functions, and is comprised of city transportation professionals and transportation provider representatives. City of Denton Traffic Engineer Bernard Vokoun serves as a member of this committee. T3 Federal Surface Reauthorization Transportation Bill The previous legislation enacting surface transportation funding was entitled TEA-21 passed by the US Congress in 1998. TEA-21 will expire on September 30, 2003. The new reauthorization bill will continue to allocate federal funding for highway and public transportation improvement. TIP Transportation Improvement Program The TIP is a document that serves as the mechanism for project selection of those transportation projects included in the IVletropolitan Transportation Plan. The TIP includes those travel demand management components such as vanpooling and rideshare programs. TEX-2! Transportation Excellence for the 21st Century TEX-21 is a statewide coalition whose purpose and goal is to work with local, regional, state, national, and international leaders in order to find comprehensive and innovative solutions to transportation issues facing Texas. IVlayor Pro Tem IVlark Burroughs serves as a member of TEX-21. TxDOT Texas Department of Transportation The Texas Legislature established the Texas Highway Department in 1917 to administer federal funds for highway construction and maintenance. Its responsibilities increased in 1975 when the Legislature merged the agency with the Texas IVlass Transportation Commission to form the State Department of Highways and Public Transportation. In 1991, the Legislature combined the State Department of Highways and Public Transportation, the Department of Aviation and the Texas IVlotor Vehicle Commission to create the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). UPWP Unified Planning Work Program A federally required budgeting document developed annually by NCTCOG in cooperation with the transportation providers and local governments for coordinating and outlining transportation and air quality planning in the region. UTP Unified Transportation Program The Unified Transportation Program (UTP) is a 10-year statewide funding plan for transportation project development. The program is updated annually by the Texas Transportation Commission, a three- member commission appointed by the Governor. Transportation White Paper April - 2003 Page 4 1. Introduction/Context Tn 2002 staff presented the Denton City Council with individual long range planning reports on the Denton Airport and Regional Transportation issues. These two issues have been identified as key areas for continued positive growth affecting the quality of life not only for Denton residents, but for the entire region. Pursuant to City Council request, staff has prepared a comprehensive Transportation Tnfrastructure report addressing multiple transportation issues in Denton for City Council review. This document will focus on three primary issues; the 2003 Denton Airport Master Plan, Local/Regional Public Transportation initiatives and update the City Council on current Regional Surface Transportation Projects. Because of the rapid population growth of the Metroplex and the movement of major business centers away from traditional downtowns toward "edge city" areas such as Las Colinas, North Dallas and the Legacy development, the Airport is well poised for continued new development. Regional public transportation services in the area will also become more and more necessary to alleviate congestion in our current transportation system. Therefore, it is anticipated that transportation initiatives forwarded by the City of Denton will be key components to the overall multi-modal transportation system in Denton County and play a vital role in the connectivity of Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Tt is for this reason that this report will focus primarily on the recently completed Denton Airport Master Plan, the opportunities and challenges of the LTNK and other public transportation initiatives. This report will also update the status on many current surface transportation capital improvement projects. final modifications to the 2003 Airport Master Plan and served as the basis for continued development during the planning phase addressed in the Plan. The 2002 Council Outcome Statement for the Denton Airport is as follows: The Denton Airport is a first class Aviation Center that serves as the home for corporate aircraft from the North Texas Region as well as locally owned general aviation aircraft. An officially designated Super Reliever Airport, Denton Airport is self-reliant financially and serves as a major mid-continent refueling center. Land in the vicinity of Denton Airport is municipally owned or controlled, and fully served by municipal infrastructure and utilities, making Denton Airport a major economic development benefit to the community. Active multiple partnerships exist at Denton Airport including a nationally recognized aviation education institute. The public understands and supports the value of the Airport to the Denton economy and future. There is no encroachment of residential development near the Airport, and no non- aviation related activities occur in inappropriate locations. 2. Airport On March 12, 2003, the Denton Airport Advisory Board approved a final draft of the 2003 Airport Master Plan, which was initiated in April 2001. Tn May 2002, during the master planning process, airport tenants, airport management and Coffman Associates had the opportunity to present a draft of the Airport Master Plan to the Denton City Council. At this planning session, City Council provided staff and Coffman Associates with facility expectations and direction pursuant to future airport development. These comments were compiled into an official "Council Outcome Statement" for the Denton Airport. This outcome statement was then used in making the Denton Airport Status of Denton Airport The Denton Airport is designated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a "Reliever Airport" for the Dallas Fort Worth Tnternational Airport (DFW). Transportation White Paper April - 2003 Page This designation puts the Denton Airport into a separate funding category to ensure that the aviation infrastructure at Reliever Airports is maintained at high levels. Ten Reliever Airports serve DFW and each airport is located within 40 miles of DFW. The primary goal of a reliever airport is to provide an alternative destination to business aircraft, source "relieving"point cargo potential operations air and traffic recreational congestion pilots at major thereby air carrier airports. Table :L identifies these reliever airports, the length of the longest runway and whether the airport has an instrument landing system (ILS). An ILS is used by aircraft operators for Apron Operations inclement whether operations. It is these airports with whom the Denton Airport competes for most Among these improvements is a 50:50 state grant for aviation related development, the construction of the air traffic control tower. The Denton Airport has experienced steady growth Construction on this facility began in _luly 2002 and is and development over the past seven years, doubling scheduled for operation _luly 1, 2003, with the assistance of an FAA operating grant. A matching the number of based aircraft from 114 in 1996 to more than 230 in 2003. In addition to the growth in grant for up to $300,000 has also been provided by the number of based aircraft on the field, hangar and TxDOT Aviation for the design and construction of a new airport terminal building planned for design in office space during that same time period more than doubled. To accommodate this growth, TxDOT has the Summer of 2003. Other projects include the administered more than $5.1 million in both federal acquisition of approximately 40 acres of land north of the airport for the proposed 1,500-foot extension of and state grant funds for airport improvements. Part the runway and the realignment of the main taxiway of these funds were utilized for the recently scheduled for design in fall 2003. This realigned completed Airport Master Plan. This particular document will assist both TxDOT and Airport taxiway will provide a true parallel taxiway system Management in coordinating the current and forecasted ~.~w:~,~,~:~;~l:~.::o]:~.~,~,a,,,~ growth at the Airport in conjunction with short-term development needs that are Addison 7,200'x100' YES 767 160,897 intended to facilitate anticipated growth and Alliance 9,600 x 150' YES 20 181,463 economic development Arlincjton 6,000' x 100' NO 319 148,000 opportunities. Denton 6,000' x 150' YES 228 113,200 Dallas Executive 6,450' x 150' YES 173 95,630 Grand Prairie 4,000' x 75' NO 287 98,001 Lancaster 5,000' x 100' NO 126 40,500 McKinney 7,000' x 100' YES 144 114,511 Meacham 7,500' x 150' YES 328 199,417 Mesquite 6,000' x 100' YES 215 82,000 Spinks 6,000' x 100' YES 133 65,300 Source: (-I-xDOT, Aviation 2002 IA Coffman Associates) Transportation White Paper April - 2003 Page and an alternative landing surface when the primary runway is closed for routine maintenance or other enhancements. The expansion of the north terminal apron has also been identified as a primary "short- term" development need with anticipated design and construction in the fall of 2003. Denton Airport Control Tower When considering capital development on the airport, it is important to note that TxDOT is the distribution source for federal and state grant funding for the City of Denton. Due to the large numbers of requests from airports across the state and limited funding, TxDOT's grant process will generally provide an airport with intermittent funding assistance. This is to say that TxDOT may provide funding for a project in a specific fiscal year, but may not provide additional assistance for several years thereafter. For this reason, development projects for the short term have been planned according to priority needs. Short Term Program Coffman Associates points out that the short term projects have not been assigned specific years because TxDOT's funding cycle typically allows for grants on an "as-needed" basis as funds are available. TxDOT will assimilate the capital projects provided in the Airport Master Plan into the state's five-year CTP. Tf funding assistance is not available from TxDOT, cities will offcen request discretionary funding assistance from the FAA to keep the project cycle on schedule. Discretionary funding is more difficult to receive as the Denton Airport must not only compete with other airports throughout Texas, but airports across the country as well. The 2003 Airport Master Plan points out that the short term planning horizon capital improvement program (CTP) centers around the immediate needs of the airport. Table 2 provides a list of the :L8 projects proposed in the five-year planning period. Although TxDOT considers these projects, totaling more than $14,496,000, to be rather aggressive, many of the projects are either in process or partial funding has been identified to schedule these projects. Examples include the extension of Runway 17 to the north, realignment of the main taxiway creating a true parallel taxiway, north terminal apron expansion, design and construction of a new airport terminal facility and extension of utility and taxiway infrastructure in the southeastern development area of the Airport. These projects are not necessarily listed in order of importance, but will better facilitate the anticipated growth. Source: 2003 Denton Airoo~ Master Plan Transportation White Paper April - 2003 Page 7 Taxiway Realignment: TxDOT has programmed the engineering and design of the $1.975 million realignment of the primary taxiway in the 2003 TxDOT Aviation CTP. Programming of engineering and design funds, totaling 10 percent of total project cost, are typically followed by programming of construction funds within one year. The realignment of 4,000 feet of the main taxiway provides a significant safety benefit as the taxiway could be used as an auxiliary landing surface during runway closures for preventative maintenance or closures associated with aircraft accidents/incidents. The current taxiway is semi-parallel and cannot be used safely in this role. A true parallel taxiway provides increased capacity to single-runway airports and delays the initial need to develop a more expensive true secondary runway. Runway Extension: Although identified as a long- term project in the 2002 long range planning document presented last year, the Master Plan and legislative action have allowed airport staff and TxDOT to consider the design and construction of the runway extension within the next five years. This project is a multi-phased process including; Land Acquisition, Environmental Assessment, Planning and Design and relocation of TLS navigational equipment. Airport management has been notified by the FAA that the length of the runway, the southern portion that is located in the Hickory Creek floodplain, must be reduced by 700 feet. This will reduce the length of the runway from 6,000 to 5,300 feet. The displacement of the runway threshold will be necessary to achieve a full runway safety area as set forth in FAA standards. These standards require that airports experiencing certain air traffic mix be required to provide a runway safety area 500 feet wide, 1,000 feet from the end of the runway. This displacement will reduce the capacity of the airport to serve larger, heavier business aircraft during periods of hot weather. Therefore, a runway extension will be required to reestablish and extend the length of the runway to a length that is compatible with the current and future aircraft mix and the hot weather conditions experienced in North Texas. Runway Extension - Land Acquisition: Staff is currently in the process of acquiring approximately 40 acres of property for a runway protection zone, which is required for the proposed 1,500-foot runway extension. The property is located north of the Airport and south of .Jim Christal Road. Tn the 2000 Bond Election, citizens approved $220,000 in bonds for the land purchase, and an additional $230,000 in bonds was included in the 2001-2002 City CTP. The purchase of this land can be used as in-kind contribution and matched at a 90:10 ratio toward the construction cost of the runway extension or other TxDOT/FAA approved projects. The land purchase is the first step necessary to extend the runway, and City Council has directed staff to acquire the property now to avoid continued cost escalations of the property. Runway Extension - Environmental Assessment/Engineering and Design: TxDOT and the FAA will require a complete environmental assessment (EA) as a first step in the planning phase of the runway extension. This is necessary to estimate the overall potential impact of the project considering such issues as potential impact to endangered species, destruction of wetlands, air quality and impact on unidentified historical or cultural sites. This step is usually initiated just prior to or immediately after land acquisition. Once the environmental status is established, engineering and design can begin and must consider the findings identified in the EA. Runway Extension - Construction Phase/Relocation of :ILS Equipment: Construction will be initiated upon completion of the EA and Engineering and Design. Construction could begin as early as FY 2006. Upon suggestion by TxDOT planning officials, management has initiated contact with our congressional delegation to assist in the identification of funds from the FAA for the relocation of FAA owned and operated TLS equipment. Extension of the runway is justified in part as a result of deficiencies in the runway safety area which is strictly interpreted by the FAA. Terminal Building: The current Terminal was constructed in 1966 and has experienced mounting maintenance problems to keep the facility operational. The 1,200 square foot Terminal does not provide sufficient administrative office space to efficiently serve current staff levels or public needs. The existing terminal is not ADA complaint and is viewed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation as part of the air traffic control tower complex. Therefore, as the control tower comes Transportation White Paper April - 2003 Page 8 online, the terminal building will need to be renovated or replaced to provide adequate access. ADA renovations have been estimated as high as $60,000 to improve access to the facility from the parking lot and to bring the restrooms up to code. Other maintenance issues including the heating and air conditioning system and the need to replace the roof are being considered. Finally, numerous requests have been made by airport users for multi- purpose training and conference rooms, which are currently not available. As the airport continues to grow, new public use facilities and administrative facilities will be required to maintain quality service. TxDOT, Aviation recognized this need and included funds for the construction of a new terminal as part of the control tower grant received in the fall of 2001. TxDOT will provide matching funds up to $300,000 for the construction of new terminal buildings. The estimated $1 million facility will have approximately 4,000 square feet and will be able to meet aviation demands of the community by providing conference and training facilities and a pilot planning room. The new facility will also improve the professional image of the City of Denton as the airport serves as a gateway to the community. parcels and accommodate aircralt with a maximum weight of 120,000 pounds. Business Air Center is in final negotiations with airport management to develop the first 1.5 acre tract for a full service jet maintenance facility. Taxiway Extension and Tnfrastructure Tmprovements: A Taxiway extension and utility infrastructure improvement project is planned in the southeast development area of the airport. The improvements would enhance development opportunities for more than five acres of property slated for light aircraft development sites. The lack of infrastructure in this location makes private development cost prohibitive for individual hangars as developers are required to extend the taxiway infrastructure. The addition of the infrastructure would provide individual pad sites to address current and anticipated demand for light general aviation development, and would also increase airport revenue through an increased number of lease agreements. As of March 25, 2003, pad sites with full utility and taxiway access for small corporate or personal hangars are no longer available at Denton Airport. All "full-infrastructure" pad sites for developments between 2,500 and 5,000 square feet have been leased. Airport management has seen a popular trend toward this caliber of development because of its versatility to both private aircraft owners and small flight departments. Planned Designs Accommodate Larger Aircraft Terminal Apron Expansion: Expansion of the current terminal apron is necessary to assist with increased demand of the airport by larger and heavier aircraft. An increasing number of prospective developers have indicated that the location north of the terminal would we be suitable for large hangar development near the proposed executive terminal apron area. Tn fact the Texas Transportation Commission will consider a proposed grant for this project in May 2003. The project calls for approximately 100,000 square feet of aircraft movement area (aircraft staging area) that will provide access to over five acres of development Future growth at the airport will be influenced by many factors including the local and regional economy, the need for a viable aviation facility in the immediate area and trends in general aviation at the national level. TxDOT Aviation, Coffman Associates and airport management believe the foundation for long-term growth will be directly related to the ability to complete the previously detailed short-term projects within the 0-5 year schedule as outlined in the Master Plan. Tntermediate and Long-Term Programs As indicated earlier, this planning document has focused on the short-term projects. Though the Airport Master Plan identifies a number of intermediate and long term projects, staff feels that west side infrastructure development is the most significant long-term project and therefore will be discussed in more detail. Airport management has, over the past few months, worked with representatives from the Water, Street and Transportation White Paper April - 2003 Page Engineering Departments, to discuss the extension of water, wastewater and ground vehicle access to more than 200 acres of property located west of the current runway. As defined in Attachment 5, the Master Plan recommends the development of a parallel runway and a future west side terminal apron area. Tt was previously noted that choice development sites, for both large scale development and smaller development initiatives, are becoming more scarce. Tt is estimated that approximately 30 acres remain available for development on the east side, of which more than :LO acres is considered less desirable for pad site development. More than :L2 identified for large or Source: 2003 Denton Airport Master Plan of those acres are multiple structure developments. Though 30 acres is a significant amount of property on the east side, it is important to note that little or no development was evident south of the mid-field hangar complex just a few years ago. Essentially all development in the Spartan, Skylane and 3ohn Carrell area has been constructed since :L997, which accounts for more than nine (9) total acres of development. Should the growth trend continue at this pace, significant development pressure will be evident within five years to initiate development of the Airport's west side. Therefore, attention will be focused on planning to improve the development capability of the approximate 230 acres located west of the current runway. The 2003 Master Plan identifies a balanced approach to providing both aviation and non-aviation related development to the Airport. This balanced approach will allow for certain tracks of property to be developed as light industrial, providing the airport the opportunity to maximize fees and revenues and diversify its revenue stream. Tt is important to note, however, that if west side development is to be realized, more than $6 million in capital funding (2003 estimate) will be necessary to extend water and wastewater facilities and provide ground vehicular access to potential development sites. The first step in realizing infrastructure development on the west side is taking place with the extension of the Krum Sewer Line now under construction. This line, which is located northeast of the airport will provide service to proposed development located on the northwestern sector of airport. West side infrastructure needs may not be realized, however, until a primary arterial road is developed west of Tom Cole Road or the proposed western extension of Loop 288. All other intermediate and long-term development issues will be addressed in the out-years on an as needs basis. Coffman Associates has simply drawn attention to those needs as the airport infrastructure and development plan matures. These short and long-term projects are considered key to the future development of the airport. Pursuant to City Council Direction, staff remains committed to an aggressive development plan for the airport, thus enhancing the ability to achieve goals set forth in the outcome statement developed in 2002. As part of this aggressive strategy, staff has Transportation White Paper April - 2003 Page 10 On-Airport Benefits FBO Services Airport Businesses $18,653,000 $3,800,000 116 Capital Projects Airport Administration Air Visitor Benefits Lodging Food/Drink $2,202,000 $884,000 60 Retail Goods/Services Ground Transport Entertainment Direct Benefits: Sum of On-airport & $20,855,000 $4,684,000 176 Air Visitor Benefits Xndirect Benefits (Multip/ier Effects of $9,912,000 $2,51 ~ 000 74 Secondary Spending) TOTAL BENEFTTS $30,767,000 $7,201~000 250 (Source: Lee McPheters - Arizona State University - 2003 Denton Airport Master Plan) worked with the Texas Cities Legislative Coalition and Congressman Burgess' office in seeking a congressional earmark to assist with funding some of these projects. A request was recently granted and a $2 million earmark for the Denton Airport was included in the 2003 Department of Transportation Appropriations Bill passed on February 20, 2003. Staff will now initiate a series of meetings with TxDOT planners to ensure that the available funding is used in concert with their planning cycles and priorities. TxDOT Aviation, although far short on necessary program funds, also remains committed to the continued development of the Denton Airport and the entire Texas Airport System Plan. This is evident when reviewing an economic impact study on general aviation in Texas that was commissioned by TxDOT in 2002. The study, completed by Wilbur Smith Associates "...demonstrates the considerable benefits to the state resulting from impacts generated by the daily operation of the Texas airport system. · :, 300 Texas airports system wide · :, 25,600 full-time jobs · :, $:L.0 billion in direct payroll · :, 56,600 total jobs related to aviation · :, $5.9 billion total in economic activity related to general aviation. Dr. Lee McPheters, Arizona State University, conducted a similar economic impact analysis that was prepared for the Denton Airport as a part of the Airport Master Plan. The report revealed corroborating evidence of the total economic impact of the Denton Airport to the community. Table 4 provides the results of the economic benefits of the Denton Airport. The total benefits of the airport, the sum of the direct and indirect benefits, were calculated to be $30.8 million in revenues to the local economy. Tt is for this reason, and TxDOT's commitment to fund projects directly enhancing safety, capacity and economic development that airport management believes the Denton Airport will soon be viewed by private development as the general aviation airport of choice in North Texas. Transportation White Paper April - 2003 Page 11 3. Public Transportation Background Various forms of public transportation services have been provided in the City of Denton since the turn of the 20th Century. The early transportation system consisted of inner-urban trains that operated between Denton and Dallas. During the period from :L920 through :L960 the public transportation system also included bus service. With the success of President Eisenhower's Tnterstate Highway program, both the inter-urban train service and intra-city bus service ceased to function by the end of the :L960's. Tn the mid-:L970's, Service Programs for Aging Needs, :[nc. (SPAN) began providing public transportation service for the elderly and handicapped population in the City of Denton. :L992, the City of Denton was recognized by the U. S. Census Bureau as an Urbanized Area (UZA). This allowed Denton to receive federal grant funds to assist in the provision of public transportation services on a larger scale. :[nitially the City of Denton contracted with SPAN, :[nc. to provide public transportation services and initiated a fixed route service. By the year 2000, the system had an increasing demand on service and the City embarked to create an identity for its transit system. A citywide campaign was conducted and L:[NK (Linking People to Places) was selected as the system's new name. With this newly established identity, L:[NK reached out to residents and users to gather information to improve the route system, then provided detailed maps of the new routes in both English and Spanish. Public transportation is a tool used by City of Denton to partner with businesses and institutions to aid in the improvement of the quality of life for Denton residents. Currently, the L:[NK system operates eight fixed routes with ADA paratransit service and partners with the University of North Texas (UNT) and Texas Woman's University (TWU) to provide off campus commuter service to students, faculty and staff. Last fall, through a competitive bid process, L:[NK hired McDonald Transit to serve as the general contractor to provide day-to-day operations of the system. McDonald Transit, a Fort Worth based company, enjoys a solid reputation throughout the public transportation industry and in six months of operating the L:[NK System, McDonald has reduced the overall cost of operation by nearly ten (10) percent. Denton LINK Bus Furthermore, McDonald is identifying increased legislative opportunities to enhance the system as well as providing positive recommendations that continue to improve L:[NK's overall efficiency. :[n fact, McDonald was instrumental in L:[NK's ability to expand the UNT partnership in January 2003 when L:[NK began providing express route service between campus and certain apartment complexes with high student populations. This service alone has reduced hundreds of single occupant vehicle trips on city streets to UNT each day. Current Challencjes The greatest challenges facing L:[NK is the demand for service. The current population explosion occurring in Denton is adding an increased demand for service. The City of Denton is home to two major Universities as well as the county seat for most state social service programs. The above demands and the demands for transportation to events and public facilities demonstrates how L:[NK has become a vital part of the Denton community. Chart :L demonstrates the growth of ridership for the last six years. :[t should be noted that the largest growth occurred between 2000 and 200:L corresponding to route restructuring and establishment of identity. As stated in the chart, the actual increase in rides from 2000 to 200:L was 99,584. This represents nearly a 75 percent increase in overall rides provided. This success, indicates that people are no longer riding L:[NK because they have to, but because it provides a viable alternative to other modes of transportation, it helps people avoid congested roads and parking hassles, it provides an Transportation White Paper April - 2003 Page 12 Chart 1: LINK Ridership by Year 1997-2002 Ridership from 1997 - 2002 300,000 250,000 200,000 15o,ooo lOO,OOO ~ 50,000 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Years environmentally friendly alternative to travel and it assists riders with special needs to travel. further improvements by expanding existing partnerships and seeking new ones. Due to the number of alternative fueled vehicles, the LTNK is viewed as one of the more progressive small public transportation systems in Texas; those systems with less than 25 vehicles. Tn March 2003, LTNK took delivery of five new propane vehicles, resulting in an overall fleet of six propane (alternative fuel) buses. With the anticipated retirement of a number of diesel vehicles past their useful life, LTNK will have more than 30 percent of its demand response and fixed route service fleet operating on alternative fuel. LTNK has made a commitment to help improve the air quality by not only providing service to high demand locations but also by operating vehicles that run on an alternative fuel instead of diesel. Diesel fuel emits three types of harmful pollutants that cause ground level ozone and smog. The pollutants are Particulate Matter (PM), Nitrous Oxides (NOx), and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). These byproducts are due to high sulfur content in diesel fuel. LTNK has chosen to operate propane- fueled vehicles for its fleet due to the available refueling source within the City and the extremely Iow amounts of PM, NOx, and VOC produced. U comin O ortunities for Public 'rrans~ortation: Expanded UNT Partnership Through the synergy realized from the operating partnership with UNT, the quality of life for residents and students has been improved. There is great potential to realize ETrans Bus - University of North Texas The University of North Texas is proposing to open its Engineering School at the former Texas Tnstruments facility in the fall of 2003. By providing bus service to the facility via the current partnership with the University, LTNK can bring public transportation to an area of the City that does not currently receive service. This new service will meet a growing demand for service in this area of the city, provide a convenient way for students to get to class and reduce the number of cars on city streets. LTNK and UNT will work closely together to identify future partnership opportunities that have similar positive outcomes. Tt is the desire of LTNK and UNT to provide seamless transportation alternatives to generate increasing opportunities for public transportation throughout this community. Transportation White Paper April - 2003 Page 13 Postcard of Denton Union Station (circa 1920) Multi-Modal Station The resurgence of public transportation in recent years has created a necessity to identify a central public transportation center in Denton. LTNK staff is currently reviewing opportunities to build a new multi-modal transportation center that will centralize public transportation operations and choices for riders in the Denton area. Current plans locate the proposed facility on the southwest corner of Hickory Street and Railroad Street, just east of the Greater Denton Arts Council. The facility would be the transfer center for the LTNK System and be the head of the rails-to-trails corridor. Eventually the multi-modal station would serve as a park-n-ride, a carpool center and potentially serve as a station on a commuter rail line linking Denton, Dallas, and Tarrant Counties. Not only will this provide a central public transportation hub in Denton, but the project would also coincide with the Downtown Master Plan in assisting the re- vitalization of Downtown Denton. Staff is currently working with the Texas Cities Legislative Coalition and Congressman Burgess' office to seek funding for this project through the Department of Transportation via the "T-3" Reauthorization. Santa Fe Depot Project - Ft Worth Federal Grant Formula - The City of Denton receives a yearly federal grant (Section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula Grants) to assist the City's public transportation service, LTNK. Under this program "small" urbanized areas, defined as having a population under 200,000, enjoy flexibility in how to use Section 5307 grants. Specifically, transit providers serving "small" urbanized areas can use Section 5307 funds for operating costs. Transit providers in areas with more than 200,000 people are limited to using section 5307 to cover "capital" costs and the state removes all direct assistance for operations. The bulk of the LTNK budget is operating costs, most of which comes from approximately $:L million provided annually through the 5307 Program. Recently, the City learned that the Denton Urbanized Area, using criteria and data from the 2000 Census, now has a population of 299,823, up from 66,445. This large increase is primarily due to the combining of the Denton Urbanized Area with the Lewisville Urbanized Area. Because the LTNK does not have substantial capital costs, the City of Denton faces the dilemma of having to return most of the 5307 funds to the federal government while either drastically cutting transit service or making cuts elsewhere in an already tight budget to cover the resulting shortfall. This is in addition to facing more than a 30 percent cut in overall funding from the state in a three year time frame, FY 2003 through FY 2005. Tt is important to note that Denton's inability to use these funds will not result in any savings for the federal taxpayers. The funds Denton returns to the federal government will simply be reallocated to other transit providers nationwide. To alleviate this potential budget shortfall, Denton is working with a coalition of 40 similarly affected transit providers from 22 states and Puerto Rico for a solution to this problem. A one-year "fix" was put in place for FY 2003, but significant operational challenges remain for LTNK. With the potential operation of the Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA), sales tax revenue and increased ridership could alleviate pressures on operational funds. However, DCTA is more than a year away from offering service and the City of Denton remains committed to providing a needed public service that has demonstrated itself as a viable transportation operation for the citizens of Denton. Transportation White Paper April - 2003 Page 14 Reeional Transportation Denton County Transportation Authority- House Bill 3323 was approved by the 77th Texas Legislature and signed into law by the Governor in 2001. The law allows the creation of a Coordinated County Transportation Authority in urban "collar" counties surrounding core counties with populations of 1,000,000 or more, which includes Denton County. As per this legislation, Denton County and its constituent municipalities formed the Denton County Transportation Authority Interim Executive Committee (TEC). The TEC formulated a service plan designed to address several issues such as population growth, increasing traffic congestion and inadequate highway funding in Denton County. o:o Feeder and Local Bus Service o:o Demand Response Although each of these services are important to improving regional mobility, and in fact, some services are currently being provided by different entities in the County, the primary focus of the Service Plan is commuter rail service to connect Denton County residents to regional rail service such as the Dallas Area Rapid Transit System (DART). The DCTA plan recognizes that Denton County is part of the greater Dallas-Fort Worth region and respects the importance of its part as a component in the regional transportation system. Tn implementing the proposed plan; DCTA will seek to work closely with DART, the Fort Worth Transportation Authority, and the North Central Texas Council of Governments to make connections to regional services. The eventual connectivity to DART and other regional transit authorities will reduce the number of vehicles traveling the roads in North Texas, thus reducing emissions and improving the quality of life for those in the region. Light Rail Concept Service Plan Goals: o:o to improve transportation for the County and region, o:o to maintain/improve quality of life o:o to contribute to air quality improvement o:o to promote economic development. The Service Plan includes a rail component and three layers of bus service, including Regional Connector Service, Feeder/Local Routes and Demand Response Service, as well as a network of Park-and- Ride/Regional Rail and Bus Facilities to serve Denton County. Together, these elements provide some type of transit service to virtually every community in the County, helping to mitigate and improve many mobility issues immediately, as well as linking the County's larger cities to rail when that service is implemented. DCTA Five Proposed Services o:o Regional Rail Service o:o Park-and-Ride/Regional Rail and Bus Facilities · :. Regional Connector Service NCTCOG Rail Transit Plan (Mobility 2025) On November 5, 2002 the DCTA was approved by public referendum by a 73% majority of voters. Since approval, the DCTA has continued to improve its definitions of the service plan and is currently procuring professional planning consulting services to assist with this endeavor. DCTA has identified September 13, 2003 for a countywide election to approve a sales tax dedicated to the operation and implementation of services outlined in the DCTA Service Plan. The Service Plan not only identifies service levels but also proposes two schedules for implementation. As Transportation White Paper April - 2003 Page 15 identified in the DCTA Service Plan, a more aggressive development and implementation of services would be recognized based on sales tax revenue. Thus, the sales tax election will propose either a 1/4-cent sales tax or a 1/2-cent sales tax to fund one of two proposals for service. This will be based on the availability of each municipality's remaining sales tax capacity. For instance, some member cities in Denton County have reached the state mandated cap of 8.25% and are thus unable to contribute any sales tax to DCTA. Other cities that do have sales tax potential are currently examining the level at which they wish to participate based on future needs for their city. Transportation White Paper April - 2003 Page 4. Roadways Local TransDortation Policies A white paper entitled "Reqional Transportation#was prepared for and discussed by the Denton City Council on September 10, 2002. The status of several issues identified in the white paper are still relevant concerns, but are not repeated in this section. Two major topics that have changed over the past seven months that are addressed include transportation policies and funding availability: TRANSPORTATION POLICIES AND PRIORITIES The 1991 Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act ("ISTEA") was the first in a series of 6- year federal funding programs geared toward balanced funding for different modes of surface transportation. ISTEA was reauthorized as "TEA-21" in 1997; the next 6-year funding program (known as "T-3") is being considered during the current congressional session. City of Denton officials have submitted four "Congressional High Priority" roadway projects for funding consideration during "T-3" reauthorization. These projects included IH-35E, Loop 288 West, FM 2499, and US 377, and have been submitted for funding on behalf of the City of Denton by Congressman Michael (2. Burgess, 26th District of Texas. If funded, construction of these projects must be underway within 6 years. The role of local governments in the project selection process will also receive attention during "T-3" reauthorization. The following federal and regional transportation policies were submitted to congressional representatives for consideration. Emphasis has been placed on maintaining and strengthening the ability of regional and local governments to determine their own project priorities. CITY OF DENTON FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION POLICIES The City of Denton supports: · :, Continuing the allocation of Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds directly to metropolitan planning organizations; · :, Maintaining the use of Highway Trust Fund dollars for transportation; Greater local authority over how all (not just STP) federal transportation funds are spent in metropolitan areas; Strengthening of federal transit programs; Maintenance of the Safety, Enhancements and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Programs, with sub-allocations of CMAQ to metropolitan planning organizations; Tmproved state disclosure of how federal transportation funds are spent; and Continuing the federal investment in transit at the current 80/20 ratio between highways and transit. The creation of a truly nationwide passenger rail system and specifically supports the development of the South Central High-Speed Rail Corridor, which is critical to meeting the mobility and clean air needs of the entire state and region. Continuation of strong federal investment in aviation made by the Aviation Tnvestment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (ATR-21). CITY OF DENTON REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION POLICIES Participate regionally in planning and implementation processes; Support and participate in efforts to make legislative changes that favor regional transportation; Support alternative transportation systems and regional connectivity; Be accountable for planning & land use decisions that impact travel demand; Commit resources for projects to leverage state / federal funding, and to improve competitive standing for transportation grants; Tnitiate planning / design activities for critical projects in advance of construction funding availability; Create partnerships to advance critical projects; and Serve as a transportation public information resource. Many of the policies were in place prior to the current "T-3" reauthorization process; some were formulated in direct response to City Council's discussion with regional transportation representatives during the September 10, 2002 long range planning session. Transportation White Paper April - 2003 Page 17 Transportation Funding Issues Funding availability will become a very significant issue during 2003 and early 2004. Major funding programs that will be developed during this period include: 1. "T-3" Reauthorization If selected, the four roadway projects submitted for federal funding consideration would provide $39 million toward critical transportation needs. Project funding requests included: ~ 1-35E: $12 million ~ Loop 288 West: $10 million ~ FM 2499:$12 million ~ US 377:$5 million RTC / 'IrC Partnership Program The NCTCOG Regional Transportation Council (RTC) has endorsed a proposed funding partnership with the Texas Transportation Commission (-II-C). Tf approved, the partnership will require the selection of regional transportation projects using more than $3 billion. A competitive call for projects is anticipated in mid-2003 to prioritize and select projects. Denton will be poised to form coalitions with neighboring municipalities, Denton County, UNT, TWU, and the Denton TXDOT office to advance projects of mutual interest. The recent award of $23.4 million for FM 2181 is a good example of the success such an approach can produce. Denton County CIP Denton County is nearing the end of its 1998 $85.3 million "Better, Safer Roads" Capital Tmprovements Program. During the 1998 county program, several significant projects such as Loop 288 East, Loop 288 West, Hickory Creek Road, and FM 2181 were advanced through city/county partnerships. The county commissioners have not yet set the schedule for the project selection process and bond referendum, but discussions for a 2003 or 2004 bond election are anticipated in the near future. City/county funding partnerships will be critical for local projects that are not eligible to receive state or federal funds, such as Mayhill Road, Lakeview Boulevard, or Hickory Creek Road. City officials should be prepared to coordinate the city's Capital Tmprovements Program with county projects selections to maximize local project funding. City of Denton CIP The City of Denton will initiate the project selection process for the next Capital Tmprovements Program in 2003, and transportation funding will likely be an important element of the CTP. City staff is currently preparing analyses of candidate projects for consideration, with an emphasis on leveraging federal, state, regional and/or county funds to advance local priorities. A separate section is provided later in this report that identifies potential future CTP project candidates. 2000-04 Capital Improvements Program The City of Denton 2000-04 Capital Tmprovements Program, approved by the voters on 3anuary 15, 2000, authorized $34 million for transportation, library, and parks capital projects. About half of the funding, $17 million, was devoted to transportation. Regional projects received $10 million of the $17 million in the CTP was specifically designated for transportation. The policy adopted, which was very successful, was to provide city funding in instances where participation would leverage county, regional, state, and/or federal investment. The table below shows that for every city dollar spent on these projects, the return on investment was about ten dollars. US 77 Elm/Locust Resurfacinq US 380 West $2,300,000 250,000 250,000 $13,100,000 860,000 7,000,000 East Loop 288 Expansion 600,000 13,720,000 TH-35E Ramp Reversals 750,000 2,000,000 - Brinker & Wind River US 377 1,000,000 10,000,000 FM 2181 809,000 15,200,000 FM 2499 500,000 8,200,000 Hickory Creek Road 750,000 2,250,000 Total $7,209,000 $72,330,000 Transportation White Paper April - 2003 Page 18 Current Projects: ~leted or Underway Within the past year, several significant roadway projects have been started and/or completed. Two of the projects (Elm/Locust and US 77) are the products of City / TxDOT partnerships Elm/Locust Resurfadnq The City has completed curb and gutter repairs and utility replacement. The resurfacing work has been completed. The City has completed resurfacing around the Downtown Square. US 77 North Construction began on this project in May 2002. The City has completed most of the required utility relocations. Drainage culverts have been installed along Locust. TxDOT is approximately halfway through with the pavement reconstruction of Locust from Orr Street to Windsor. Tnitial grading has begun on the widening of US 77 from Orr to Loop 288. US 77 North Reconstruction Elm/Locust Street Resurfacing Area Nottinqham Crossinq and Extension to Audra The city has completed this project. The railroad crossing was opened to public in February of 2002. The reconstruction of Audra Lane is complete. Nottingham Crossing and Extension to Audra Lane Local Streets Maintenance and Repair -The City continues to maintain and repair local streets through crack sealing, micro seals, surface overlays and reconstruction projects. Recent thoroughfare improvements include: · Windsor Reconstruction from Bonnie Brae to Hinkle Drive · Oak/Hickory Resurfacing Overlay from Elm Street to Bonnie Brae Local Streets 1/4-Cent Sales Tax Tn summer 2002, the Denton City Council conducted a long-range planning work session to discuss pavement maintenance, rehabilitation and reconstruction of local streets. A ten-year program increasing local streets resource levels from $2.6 million per year to $5.3 million per year was recommended to address street maintenance needs before total pavement failure occurs. The decision to call for a 1/4-cent sales tax election to fund pavement repair and maintenance was deferred pending further analysis. Possible use of this funding mechanism will impact future funding availability for regional transportation partnership projects. Transportation White Paper April - 2003 Page Proqrammed Roadwa~/~rojects On all sides of the city, programmed roadway projects are in various stages of progress. All of the projects identified in this section have received funding commitments, and are regionally significant for capacity and/or connectivity purposes. Within the next five to seven years, construction activity in the City of Denton related to regional roadway improvements will reach extraordinary levels. The impacts of the improvements will address a majority of the federal and state highways, and state farm-to- market roads that connect Denton to the North Texas region. US 380 West: US 77 to 1-35N (4 to 6 Lanes) · 2.4 Miles · $7 million total cost · TxDOT design is currently underway to be completed in September 2003 · Funding is authorized to begin construction upon design completion US 380 East: Loop 288 to US 77 (2 to 6 Lanes) · 2.5 Miles · $:L2 million total cost · TxDOT Engineering has been completed. · Utility relocation is underway · Construction to begin in spring 2003 US 380 West Expansion Phase US 380 East Expansion Phase US 380 Far West: T-35N to Wise County Line (2 to 6 Lanes) · 9.2 Miles · $27.7 million · Construction schedule unavailable · Significant safety improvement - concern is gravel truck traffic US 380 Far West Expansion to Wise County Line Transportation White Paper April - 2003 Page 20 East Loop 288 Expansion (2 to 6 Lanes) North Section (US $$0 to FM 425) · 1.4 miles · $4.82 million in state/federal funds reserved for construction · City contribution $600,000 · City and County initiated engineering in February 2002 · Construction target date- 2004-05 South Section (FM 426 to IH-35E) · 2.3 miles · $8.9 million in state/federal funds reserved for construction · Design begun February 2002 · Construction target date- 2004 A bridge bypass will be constructed around the northwest side of the existing Rail-Trail overpass to allow access to the Denton Crossing retail center driveways, and to facilitate traffic flow during overpass demolition. The bridge bypass is scheduled to completed by September 2003. West Loop 288 Extension: :[-35N to :[-35W (6 Lane Freeway) · 7.5 miles · City has committed $259,000 to the project · City and County have partnered for total of $760,000 on environmental assessment and preliminary design work · Public hearings to be held on proposed route. · No funding identified for project yet, designation as a Congressional High Priority project was requested in March 2003 · Phase ! - !H-35N to US 380 is high priority; truck traffic can be diverted around Loop 288, providing congestion relief for the !H-35N/US 380 interchange Approximately $5 million in supplemental construction funding for this project has been proposed as part of the NCTCOG RTC's partnership program submitted to the Texas Transportation Commission for approval. A decision on the partnership program is expected in spring 2003. Western Loop 288 Extension Loop 288 Expansion Transportation White Paper April - 2003 Page 21 TH-35E Ramp Reversals Brinker anff Winff River Roaff Connections · $2.2 million in total cost · Design has begun on both pairs of ramps · Construction funding: o City of Denton - $900,000 o TXDOT- $1 million o NCTCOG grant - $295,000 · Project will "reverse" Brinker and Wind River TH-35E ramp pairs · Construction schedule - bids in fall 2003; construction in late 2003 or early 2004 FM 2181 from Lillian Miller to T-35E/Swisher (2 to 6 Lanes) · $23.4 million awarded by NCTCOG for construction from Lillian Miller Parkway to Swisher Road/TH-35E interchange in Corinth · City commitment: $800,000 · City of Denton ROW Acquisition: City has reserved $300,000 in 2002-03 budget as 10% match for estimated $3 million ROW purchase needs · Preliminary design underway, 2005-06 construction start anticipated IH-35E Ramp Reversals US 377: T-35E to Kansas City Southern RR (2/4 Lanes to 6 Lanes) · 1.4 Miles · Cost estimate not available, no construction funding programmed. · City and County: $2 million for design · RR overpass widening design: contracted in Spring 2002. FM 2181 Expansion to Denton City Limits US 377 Expansion Transportation White Paper April - 2003 Page 22 FM 426 (McKinney) Woodrow to TriniW (2 to 4 Lanes) · 3.2 IVlJles · Estimated $6 million project; construction funds available 2004 · Status: Design work has not been started · Significant traffic relief for Loop 288 and Mayhill intersections and Ryan High School traffic FM 426 (McKinney) Expansion FM 2499, Seqment S: :[H-3SE/State School Road :[nterchanqe to FM 2181 (New 4-Lane Road) · 3.0 miles · $8.2 million project · Preliminary Design Schematics and Environmental Assessment have been completed on this route · $1 million in City/County partnership · Proposed Congressional High Priority project FM 2499 New Road Construction Hickory Creek Road: FM 2181 to FM 1830 (2 to 4 Lanes, ultimately 6 Lanes) · 1.5 miles east of Kansas City Southern RR (KCS RR) · East section from KCS RR to FlY1 2181 design is 95% completed; right-of-way acquisition is underway · 0.75 miles west of KCS RR · West section alternatives are under examination to keep road section out of floodway · City and County partnership ($2.25 million) to be used in design and construction of east section Hickory Creek Expansion Transportation White Paper April - 2003 Page 23 Windsor / Loop 288 Tnterchan,qe · New grade-separated Loop 288 interchange · Kings Row intersection will be considered for closure due to safety concerns · $500,000 available for ROW and design · $5.1 million project cost not funded · Traffic and pedestrian analyses nearing completion · Public meetings- spring 2003 Windsor Interchange Western Boulevard: Airport Rd. to US 380 (New 6-Lane Arterial) · Airport Road to US 380 · 2.0 miles · $2.4 million in public/private partnership (City- $785,000) · ROW acquisition agreement nearing approval · Alignment may shiffc to the west between US 380 and Jim Christal Road · Tmportant industrial reliever for Airport Road, better highway access Western Boulevard US 377 Alternate TH-35W to US 377 (2 to 4 Lanes, ultimately 6 Lanes) · City partnership with the Vintage developer · City funding $1.9 million · Preliminary design complete, ROW acquisition by developer still pending · Construction target date: 2004 US 377 Alternate Spencer Road: Woodrow to Loop 288 (2 to 4 Lanes) · Secondary access to Denton Crossing retail center; major safety and access improvement connecting Loop 288 to Woodrow · Denton Crossing project will extend Brinker Road from Loop 288 to Spencer · Construction funding: City $2.3 million; Denton Crossing developer - $700,000 · Construction completion: 2004 Spencer Road Transportation White Paper April - 2003 Page 24 Reqional Roadwa~/~ojects: Plannin p~qe~ IH-35E Major Investment Study (MIS) (Expansion from 4 to 10 Main Lanes; and from 2 to 3 Frontage Road Lanes on each side) · 23 miles · Lower study (south of lake) to include either reversible HOV lanes or express lanes. · Travel Demand Management, Transportation System Management (TDM/TSM) and Bicycle/Pedestrian improvements are being recommended. · Commuter and light rail are being evaluated in the DART Northwest Corridor IvlTS. · A public meeting was held in Denton on March 18, 2003 to hear public comments on the draft design schematic for the project segment from Lewisville Lake to US 380. · The final preferred alternative will go to public hearing in mid- to late 2003. TxDOT has indicated that construction could begin as early as 2012, subject to available funding. IH-35E Major Investment Study The Dallas North Tollway -The Dallas North Tollway (DNT) is the heart of the DNT System. The DNT is a 21-mile, six-lane thoroughfare of the IVletroplex connecting downtown Dallas to cities in northern Dallas and southern Collin and Denton Counties, passing through or along the cities of Dallas, Highland Park, University Park, Addison, Farmer's Branch, and Piano. Service roads have already been built north of SH 121 in cooperation with Collin County and Frisco in anticipation of an extension of the tollway. An environmental assessment was performed on the proposed extension from its current terminus north of Legacy Drive in Piano to US 380 north of Frisco. From Legacy Drive to Gaylord Parkway, the DNT is currently under construction. This includes the interchange at SH 121. The N-I-I-A periodically evaluates the financial feasibility of continued extensions of the DNT to points north of SH 121. Frontage roads currently exist from Legacy Drive just south of SH 121 to FM 2934. Collin County is currently constructing one frontage road from FM 2934 to US 380. N~rA Current System and Future Extensions FM 720 & Lake Lewisville Bridqe-This project is to construct a 4-lane divided urban roadway from Tnterstate 35E to FlY1 423 which will ultimately connect with the Dallas North Tollway. Part of the roadway will be undivided due to restrictive right-of- way. The Environmental Assessment for the project was completed in .~uly. TxDOT will continue to review the assessment until .~anuary of 2003. The North Texas Tollway Authority is scheduled to begin hiring engineers to begin plan schematics and estimates in .~uly-December 2003. Transportation White Paper April - 2003 Page 25 Future Capital Project Candidates identification of factors that will help in prioritizing the relative need for each improvement. As the 2000-04 CTP draws to a close, city staff has begun preparations for a 2004-09 bond election. Current estimates indicate that a $30-$35 million bond program will be possible, given the city's current tax rate, and potential transportation projects are being evaluated to facilitate informed decision- making. Potential partnership projects for regional roadways such as the Western Loop 288 Extension, US 377, and FM :L830 will be considered. Recent successes with East Loop 288, FM 2:L8:L, US 380, and FM 426 indicate that city CTP funds dedicated to partnerships yield significant leveraging benefits. City growth has generally progressed from southeast to the northwest, and as indicated by the projects identified in this section, most of the future public safety and traffic congestion priorities are located in south and east Denton. Tn south Denton, travel demand associated with Teasley Lane (FM 2:L8:L) Corridor growth has overburdened several roads in the vicinity. Tn east Denton, bypass traffic searching for connectivity between US 380 and T-35E has overwhelmed Loop 288 and Mayhill Road, with Lakeview Boulevard viewed as a third connector capable of accommodating north-south travel. At the same time, anticipated water and wastewater service availability in North Denton has stimulated development interest. Undeveloped areas north of Loop 288 will soon exert demand for transportation improvements, particularly if large tracts (such as Clear Creek Ranch - 750 acres) are developed as master planned communities. Tnterest in the Airport Tndustrial Area on the west side of the city has also begun to emerge, and other than Airport Road, roadway quality in the vicinity is poor. Tn these areas, lack of transportation infrastructure may hinder economic development objectives and result in less than desirable development quality. Even if transportation projects receive half or more of the funding anticipated in the next bond election, demand for thoroughfare improvements will clearly exceed available CTP funding. IVlayhill Road: US 380 to Edwards Road (2 to 4 / 6 Lanes; est. $15 million) · Approx 3.7 miles · Alternative route: US 380 - FlY1 426 - TH-35E · Relieves demand on Loop 288 · Addresses additional capacity need for Ryan High School traffic · IVlayhill / Colorado realignment currently under construction Mayhill Road Ryan Road: FNI2181 to FNI :1.830 (2 to 4 Lanes; est. $4.5 million) · Approx. 2 miles · East-west secondary major arterial · High growth area; expansion needed to accommodate new elementary school traffic Anticipated Future CIP Projects Projects identified in this section are either unfounded or need additional funding to move toward completion. Preliminary discussion and analyses are being conducted to determine level of funding needed, the potential for partnerships, and Ryan Road Transportation White Paper April - 2003 Page Minqo Road: Bell Avenue to Old North (2 to 4 Lanes; est. TBD) · Approx 2.1 miles · East-west secondary major arterial · Provides access to Downtown from NE Mingo Road Shady Oaks: Extension to Loop 288; and Brinker Road: Extension to Shady Oaks (New segments, 4 Lanes; est. TBD) · 2.8 miles · Significant connector through Employment Center area between Woodrow & Loop 288 · Brinker road, from Loop 288 to Spencer Road, to be connected as part of the Denton Crossing Development. Brinker Road Extension Hickory Creek Road: KCS RR to FM 1830 (2 to 4 Lanes; est. TBD) · 0.72 miles · Alignment selection process underway to remove road from Hickory Creek floodplain · Design & construction funds needed for west section from Kansas City Southern RR to FM 1830 (Country Club Road) FM 1830: US 377 to Brush Creek Road (2 to 4 Lanes; est. TBD) · 2.12 miles · Tncrease north/south flow allowing for connectivity to US 377 in both directions. · Accommodate additional development growth pressure in area. Hickory Creek West FM 1830 (Country Club) Transportation White Paper April - 2003 Page 27 US 377: TH-35E to KCS Railroad (2 to 6 Lanes; est. TBD) · 1.4 miles · Construction phase of project · Widening of T-35E bridge over US 377 under construction · Widening of KCS RR bridge over US 377 Under design US 377 FM 2499, Seqment 5: TH-35E to FM 2181 (New 4-Lane Road; est. $8.2 million) · 3.0 miles · City / county partnership for design · ROW acquisition ~n process · Tdentified as a High Priority Congressional project as part of a March 2003 funding request West Loop 288 Extension: T-35N to T-35W (6 Lane Limited Access; est. TBD) · 7.5 miles · Preliminary design, alignment selection, and environmental assessment underway · Construction funding not yet identified · Phase ! - TH-35N to US 380 is a high priority to divert truck traffic to Loop 288 instead of going through the TH-35N / US 380 interchange · Tdentified as a High Priority Congressional project as part of a March 2003 funding request Western Loop 288 Extension FM 2499, Segment 5 Transportation White Paper April - 2003 Page 28 Lakeview Boulevard: US 380 to TH-35E (New 4-Lane Road; $18 million) Route Study and Mobility Plan amendment under consideration to determine most appropriate route for north/south arterial · Significant savings possible if alignment avoids Pecan Creek bridge crossing · Proposed alignment is west of Trinity Road, and west of Lakeview Ranch, connecting to existing section of Lakeview Blvd. Built as part of The Preserve planned development · Nobility Plan amendment to be submitted for City Council approval in spring 2003 · Possible city/county partnership project Public/Private Partnerships The City of Denton is recently formed a public/private economic development partnership to support the $3 million Spencer Road project. Two other projects, Western Boulevard and the US 377 Alternate, also envision private participation for successful completion. Two other projects under similar consideration are identified in this section. Lonq Road: FM 2164 to Bonnie Brae (2 to 4 Lanes) · Clear Creek Ranch: 750 Acre Nixed-Use development north of Loop 288 · Construction to include 1.78 mile length of Long road to connect north Bonnie Brae to North Locust (FlVl 2164) · East-west Connectivity Lakeview Boulevard Hobson Lane: FM 2181 to FM 1830 (2 to 4 / 6 Lanes; est. TBD) · 1.1 miles · Connectivity needed for east/west mobility Hobson Lane Long Road State School Connector: Wind River to State School Road (New 4-Lane Road) · East west connection from Wind River to State School road (future FM2499) · NCTCOG grant award of $588,728 available toward construction costs State School Road Connector Transportation White Paper April - 2003 Page 2P