2022-063 Kimley Horn Conceptual PlansOctober 7, 2022 Report No. 2022-063
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
The aesthetic conceptual plans prepared by Kimley-Horn incorporating local design elements on
four proposed overpasses, underpasses, and interchange.
BACKGROUND:
Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is in the process of redesigning the overpasses
along Interstate-35 (IH-35) corridor in the City of Denton and the interchange where Interstate-
35E (IH-35E) and Interstate-35W (IH-35W) intersect just south of the city. The TxDOT project
will encompass approximately a 6.5-mile-long section of interstate which includes 6 overpasses
and the single interchange. The TxDOT project has a letting date of September 2023 and
construction is anticipated to begin in 2024.
TxDOT contacted the City of Denton as part of their community outreach to be able incorporate
design elements that are reflective of the community. TxDOT has developed and offered their
Aesthetic Design Guidelines to help communities create an overall corridor of design continuity
while maintaining our City of Denton identity.
In January 2022, the City of Denton’s Parks and Recreation Department requested a statement of
qualifications for wall, hardscape and landscape enhancements along the IH-35 corridor. The
purpose of the project would be to pursue the graphic design of the Mechanically Stabilized Earth
(MSE) retaining walls, decorative hardscapes and landscapes enhancements related to the TxDOT
project of the redesigned overpasses, underpasses and interchange.
In February 2022, the consulting firm, Kimley-Horn, signed a professional services agreement
(PSA 7599-007) with the City of Denton for the completion of the walls, hardscape and landscape
aesthetics schematic plans.
The first proposed locations that will receive the MSE wall aesthetic enhancements are the
following:
• Loop 288 (underpass) • U.S. 380 (overpass) and (baseline / accent Intersection)
• W. Oak Street (overpass/baseline intersection) • I-35E and Interstate 35W at Bonnie Brae Street (baseline/ accent intersection)
The first proposed designs, in coordination with TxDOT, City of Denton’s Parks and Recreation
Department and the Public Arts Committee (PAC), consisted of large medallions. TxDOT
recommended that the proposed designs move away from the large medallions due to engineering
issues caused by the additional weight on the MSE walls.
The first viable draft designs were presented to the PAC on April 7, 2022. Based on the renderings
at this time the PAC recommended that the designs be simplified for clarity.
October 7, 2022 Report No. 2022-063
The second draft of designs were presented to the PAC on June 2, 2022. On this occasion, the
PAC gave the following recommendations:
• Some designs are too detailed, • Not to use two treble clefs on the same line,
• Do not use backward musical notes, • Use a score to music that represents Denton,
• Focus should be on the music notes rather than sound waves, • Consider only having a few detailed intersections and keeping the rest less busy,
• Pay attention to notes and their meanings, and • Consider messages relevant to Denton.
The third draft of designs were presented to the PAC on August 4, 2022. The following
recommendations were given to the consultant engineer to incorporate:
• Eliminate the singers in A-1 and guitar player in A-3
• Add the full guitar to B-1 • Eliminate B-2
• Eliminate C-2 (Option B), provide more detail with the artists, add a trumpet and trombone
player, eliminate the sound waves from C-2 (Option A)
• Add notes to D-1 with meaning • Eliminate D-2 and D-1 (Option A)
After these first 4 iterations of changes to the schematic plans by the PAC, the Parks, Recreation,
and Beautification Board (Parks Board) was given a chance for their input. The meeting occurred
on July 11, 2022, and their recommendation was to make sure the musician outlines fully
represented the contributions of women and minorities to Denton’s music culture.
Both University of North Texas (UNT) and Texas Woman’s University (TWU) were represented
during the design process as part of the focus group that worked with Kimley-Horn on the esthetic
schematic plan.
The final MSE walls aesthetic schematic plan was presented to the PAC on September 1, 2022,
and to the Parks Board on September 12, 2022. Both committees supported the designs as
presented. See Attachment 1 below.
DISCUSSION:
Upcoming TxDOT Deadlines & Fiscal Responsibility
The final MSE wall aesthetic schematic plans are ready to be submitted to TxDOT. The deadline
for submission of the schematic plans was September 30, 2022. The deadline for submission of
the design plans and contract documents is anticipated to be at the end of October 2022.
Upon submittal and approval of the final design plans to TxDOT, the package will be incorporated
into the larger TxDOT plan set. This plan set is to be used as a basis for preparing a corresponding
October 7, 2022 Report No. 2022-063
engineer’s opinion of probable cost for the construction cost that will be incurred during the
highway improvements which is anticipated to begin in 2024.
As TxDOT progresses forward with their original form liner (5 X 10 panels) design of their
overpasses, the City of Denton will only be responsible for the cost of the additional imprinted
designs on the panels, paint schemes, additional lighting and any other additions which may be
included onto ongoing maintenance and repair agreements. The preliminary anticipated cost for
each of the recommended locations are as follows:
• Loop 288 - $265,000.00 (Concept A-1 & Concept A-2; imprinted design only)
• U.S. 380 - $260,000.00 (Concept B-1 & Concept B-2; TWU, imprinted design only) • W. Oak Street - $287,500.00 (Concept C-1 & Concept C-2; imprinted design only) • I-35E and Interstate 35W at Bonnie Brae Street - $300,000.00 (Concept D-1 & Concept
D-2; imprinted design only)
The preliminary estimated total cost is $1,112,500.00. This is based on an estimated cost of $50 per square
foot. Per TxDOT, costs per square foot have been lower, but staff wanted to estimate higher based on the
market. Final costs will not be realized until bids are received. This will be budgeted in FY2023-2024.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends the acceptance of the work done by the City of Denton’s Park and Recreation
Department and their coordination among various partners and boards which have given input for
the refinement of the aesthetic concept plans. Staff recommends permission be given to the City
of Denton Capital Project/Engineering Department to submit the prepared final construction
documents to TxDOT for their review and approval once completed by the end of October.
The submittal of the construction documents will allow for TxDOT deadlines to be met and allow
for the progress to move toward construction.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Attachment 1 - I-35 Corridor-Denton Roadway Aesthetics; MSE Wall Concepts & Location;
Kimley-Horn.
STAFF CONTACT:
Jesus Perez
Construction Project Manager
jesus.perez@cityofdenton.com
(940) 349-7715
REQUESTOR: Staff Initiated
STAFF TIME TO COMPLETE REPORT: 2 hours
PARTICIPATING DEPARTMENTS: COD Parks and Recreation Department and COD
Engineering/CIP Department
I-35 CORRIDOR-DENTON ROADWAY AESTHETICS MSE WALL CONCEPTS & LOCATION
CONCEPT A-1
WALL A
WALL A
WALL C
WALL B
WALL B
WALL D
CONCEPT A-2
CONCEPT B-2
CONCEPT C-1
CONCEPT C-2
CONCEPT B-1 W UNIVERSITY DR
LOOP 288
LOOP 288
MSE WALL KEY MAP
CONCEPT A - I-35 & 288
ENTRY MONUMENT - I-35 & MILAM RD
CONCEPT B - I-35 & UNIVERSITY
CONCEPT C - I-35 & WEST OAK ST
CONCEPT D - 35 & BONNIE BRAE
WEST OAK ST
WEST OAK ST
WEST OAK ST
WALL C
WALL A
WALL C
WALL D
WALL B
WALL D
$67,500 $67,500
$75,000
$50,000
$75,000
$72,500
$77,500
$50,000
$70,000
$70,000
$65,000 $65,000
MSE WALL KEY MAP
CONCEPT A - I-35 & 288
ENTRY MONUMENT - I-35 & MILAM RD
CONCEPT B - I-35 & UNIVERSITY
CONCEPT C - I-35 & WEST OAK ST
CONCEPT D - 35 & BONNIE BRAE
WALL A
WALL C $82,500 $82,500
$67,500 $67,500 WALL B
WALL D
CONCEPT D-1 BONNIE BRAE ST
BONNIE BRAE STCONCEPT D-2
WALL A
WALL C
$65,000
$65,000
$65,000
$65,000
WALL B
WALL D
TWU CONCEPT B-1
TWU CONCEPT B-2
W UNIVERSITY DR
W UNIVERSITY DR
CONCEPT PLACEMENT AT OVERPASS INTERSECTIONS
MSE WALL KEY MAP
CONCEPT A - I-35 & 288
ENTRY MONUMENT - I-35 & MILAM RD
CONCEPT B - I-35 & UNIVERSITY
CONCEPT C - I-35 & WEST OAK ST
CONCEPT D - 35 & BONNIE BRAE
WALL LOCATION D
WALL LOCATION D
WALL LOCATION B
WALL LOCATION B
WALL LOCATION A
WALL LOCATION A
WALL LOCATION C
WALL LOCATION C
CONCEPT PLACEMENT AT 288 & I-35
I-35 CORRIDOR-DENTON ROADWAY AESTHETICS ENTRY MONUMENTATION MILAM ROAD
MSE WALL KEY MAP
CONCEPT A - I-35 & 288
ENTRY MONUMENT - I-35 & MILAM RD
CONCEPT B - I-35 & UNIVERSITY
CONCEPT C - I-35 & WEST OAK ST
CONCEPT D - 35 & BONNIE BRAE
THEME/BRANDING OPPORTUNITY
THEME/BRANDING OPPORTUNITY
THEME/BRANDING OPPORTUNITY
ACCENT LIT GATEWAY TOTEM
(CAST-IN-PLACE CONCRETE)
INTERNALLY LIT GATEWAY TOTEM
(METAL)
INTERNALLY LIT GATEWAY TOTEM
(METAL)
CAST-IN-PLACE CONCRETE
PLANTER W/LIT METAL
PINNED LETTERING
CAST-IN-PLACE CONCRETE
PLANTER W/LIT CAST
CONCRETE LETTERING
CAST-IN-PLACE CONCRETE
PLANTER W/LIT CAST CONCRETE
LOGO OR MUSIC THEME
MILAM ROAD
MILAM ROAD
MILAM ROADALTERNATIVE A
ALTERNATIVE B
ALTERNATIVE C
I-35 CORRIDOR-DENTON ROADWAY AESTHETICS ENTRY MONUMENTATION MILAM ROAD