The Collin County Observer

Meeting Tuesday night at Murphy City Hall, the Commissioners Court sent a strong message to the NCTCOG, TxDOT and NTTA by voting to rescind their support for a Collin/Denton County line alignment for the next phase of the Dallas North Tollway expansion.

Judge Keith Self spoke of the huge economic impact of moving the tollway into Collin County. Commissioner Jack Hatchell noted that, "Denton County does not want to cooperate".

In another unanimous vote, the Court approved beginning the process to create a Collin County Toll Road Authority. If the CTRA is in fact authorized, it would allow the county to have the right to build and operate their own tollroads. The law that created CTRA's permits a CTRA to build tollroads without getting any approval from NCTCOG or TxDOT.

The court also will accelerate the choosing of the county's two representatives on the NTTA board.

The court is reacting to their frustration with NCTCOG, and the RTC in getting our fair share of the SH 121 revenues. There is a growing feeling that Collin County is being shortchanged in the allocation of the revenue.

While TxDOT is sitting on over $3.2 billion from the SH 121 CDA, local officials are being told that they may not receive as much as they were led to believe, and that what they receive and how it will be spent, may be determined by regional priorities. In other words the county will loose a large part of its ability to set priorities.

Several on the court had eyed the SH 121 funds as a means to jump-start the Outer Loop project. The last legislature, reacting to a public outcry over the Trans Texas Corridor has pretty much halted any progress on the Outer Loop, which would connect to the TTC on 2 ends.

This battle of wills between Collin County and the RTC is far from over. Next January, the Texas Legislature will begin its 81st session. They are expected to take up the issues of highway funding, toll road expansion and the Trans Texas Corridor. What they will do, and what it's effect on Collin County are huge unknowns.

The court's actions tonight were akin to firing over the bow of a ship. Yes, the first shots have been fired, but the outcome is anyone's guess.

Bill

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Commissioners rescind 2005 court order

By Stephanie Flemmons, Plano Star Courier
Tuesday, May 20, 2008

In an unanimous vote the Collin County Commissioners agreed to rescind a 2005 resolution sharing the Dallas North Tollway expansion with Denton County.

County Judge Keith Self explained to the commissioners the huge economic incentives Collin County receives from the DNT.

Self said studies were conducted breaking the DNT’s current and expansion projects into four sections.

The first part from 635 to George Bush is now worth $9 billion in economic development, Self said. The section from George Bush to 121 is worth $6 million and the DNT phase 3 up to 380 is worth $5 billion.

Self said phase 4, which is yet to be complete, is already worth $500 million.

“You can tell the DNT is a tremendous economic generator,” Self said. “This is a huge powerhouse. This makes us realize the 2005 resolution should be rescinded.” Self also explained to the commissioners he felt confident property owners a little further east into Collin County will work with county officials to purchase right of ways.

Commissioner Joe Jaynes said the court always intended to keep the roadway in Collin County for economic benefits to the citizens.

North Texas Tollway Authority officials addressed the commissioners on future planning for toll road extensions.

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Other Media coverage:

Dallas Morning News - Collin County won't share tollway with Denton County
McKinney Courier-Gazette - Collin County rescinds DNT resolution; Denton County claims bad move