Item 5GCity of Southlake
Department of Planning
MEMORANDUM
July 27, 2005
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Ken Baker, AICP, Planning Director
SUBJECT: Resolutions 05 -038 & 05 -040 requesting that the widening of White Chapel Boulevard
(Highland St. to Emerald Rd.) to a four land divided facility and associated trail and the
construction of the FM 1709 /Pearson Lane/Union Church Road intersection be
included as projects in the Tarrant County 2006 Transportation Bond Program.
Transportation improvements within Tarrant County have typically been funded through municipal bond
programs, local capital improvement programs, or the distribution of state or federal dollars.
Unfortunately, these funds do not meet the growing need for transportation improvements countywide.
According to data from the North Central Texas Council of Governments (COG), the Dallas/Fort Worth
region's population is expected to increase to over 8 million people by 2030. With a significant amount
of that growth occurring in Tarrant County, many roadways in the area are expected to reach
unacceptable level of service in the near future. For this reason, the Tarrant County Commissioners
Court is proposing a transportation bond program designed to meet critical infrastructure needs across
the area through the shared financing of strategically significant transportation projects.
The goal of the bond program is to provide financial support for the advancement of a variety of
transportation enhancement across Tarrant County. The bond program could include up to $200 million
for transportation projects throughout the county. If the Tarrant County Transportation Bond Program is
endorsed by voters in May 2006, the City of Southlake may be eligible to receive up to a 50 percent
dollar match towards the cost of the any project that is included in the bond package.
Tarrant County is currently soliciting project submittals from all municipalities that are located in
Tarrant County. The due date for project submission is August 19, 2005. Municipalities must
demonstrate that the projects submitted meet the goals and objectives of the Tarrant County
transportation bond package program which include congestion mitigation and air quality improvement.
Also, in order to be considered for inclusion into the program a project must meet the following criteria:
• Projects and associated local funding must be supported by the sponsoring community
through a city council resolution;
• Projects must on the local master thoroughfare plan;
• Projects must be ready for implementation within three years;
• Each municipality submitting projects under this program is responsible for ensuring its
cost share is available at the time of project initiation.
• Design drawings or concept plans on the project must be submitted in conjunction with
the request.
Once the potential road project requests are received from the municipalities, the County will inventory
the requests into a master database. The Commissioner's Court will appoint a Project Evaluation
Committee to review projects according to the criteria for project selection. This committee will provide
the Commissioners Court with a recommended list of projects to be funded by the bond program.
Based on the program criteria provided by Tarrant County, city staff is recommending that two projects
be submitted to the County for consideration. These projects are the White Chapel Blvd. (Emerald Rd.
to Highland St.) widening and trail system and the construction of the Pearson Ln./FM 1709
intersection.
White Chapel Boulevard (Highland St. to Emerald Rd
White Chapel Boulevard is planned as a four lane divided roadway. The right -of -way varies from 91' to
93' in width. The cross - section includes 12' travel lanes, a trail on the west side, and a 9' -15' parkway
on both sides of the road. Staff believes that this project meets the intent of the Tarrant County bond
program by providing the improvement of a primary north -south arterial that will provide for the safe
and efficient movement of vehicles between SH 114 and FM 1709. Also the project will relieve traffic
congestion near the Carroll High School and the associated trail system will promote safe access to the
school for pedestrians. The estimated total cost for the White Chapel Blvd. widening and trail is
approximately $4 million.
FM 1709/Pearson Ln./Union Church Rd. Intersection
Traffic volumes along Pearson Ln., Union Church Rd. and FM 1709 have increased significantly in the
past five years. This has resulted in increased traffic congestion, worsening air quality and reduced level
of service at the intersection of these roadways. The construction of the ultimate intersection in this area
is needed for the efficient and safe movement of vehicles. This intersection is heavily used both by City
of Southlake and City of Keller residents. The estimated cost for the Pearson Lane/FM 1709 intersection
improvement is $1.8 million.
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Attachment A- Resolution 05 -038
Attachment B- Resolution 05 -040
Attachment A
RESOLUTION NO. 05 -038
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE,
TEXAS AUTHORIZING AND ENDORSING THE APPLICATION FOR
FUNDING FROM THE TARRANT COUNTY 2006 TRANSPORTATION BOND
PROGRAM FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHITE CHAPEL BOULEVARD
FROM HIGHLAND STREET TO EMERALD BOULEVARD FROM A TWO
LANE UNDIVIDED FACILITY TO A FOUR LANE DIVIDED FACILITY WITH
A PEDESTRAINBICYCLE TRAIL.
WHEREAS, construction of White Chapel Boulevard as a four lane divided facility is shown on the City of
Southlake Master Thoroughfare Plan as a major arterial; and
WHEREAS, White Chapel Boulevard represent a primary north -south route for residents of northeast
Tarrant County; and
WHEREAS, a four -lane north -south arterial is critically needed in this area for efficient and safe movement
of vehicular traffic between FM 1709 and SH 114, two state facilities; and
WHEREAS, White Chapel Boulevard provides access to Carroll High School (9 & IO grades) and will
improve congestion levels around the school; and
WHEREAS, White Chapel Boulevard will include a trail along the roadway to promote safe access to the
school and to improve air quality; and
WHEREEAS, the trail along White Chapel Boulevard is a critical link for a larger trail system which
connects Bob Jones Park a major regional park to the Cotton Belt trail and future commuter rail line along
SH 26; and
WHEREAS, public support for the project has already been received in the form of dedicated right -of -way
for the roadway; and
WHEREAS, the City of Southlake has prepared conceptual engineering plans for this project; and
WHEREAS, the City of Southlake will provide a 50% local funding match and will indicate this project in
the city's Capital Improvements Program.
BE IT RESOLVEDBY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS, THAT:
Section 1. The application for funding from the Tarrant County 2006 Transportation Bond Program for
construction of White Chapel Boulevard as a four lane divided facility with a trail from Highland Street
to Emerald Road is hereby authorized and endorsed.
Section 2. The resolution shall take effect upon its passage and approval.
PASSED AND APPROVED this the day of 1 2005.
ATTEST:
City Secretary
APPROVED:
Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
City Attorney
Attachment B
RESOLUTION NO. 05 -040
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS AUTHORIZING AND ENDORSING THE
APPLICATION FOR FUNDING FROM THE TARRANT COUNTY 2006
TRANSPORTATION BOND PROGRAM FOR THE ULTIMATE
CONSTRUCTION OF THE FM 1709/PEARSON LANE/UNION CHURCH
ROAD INTERSECTION.
WHEREAS, FM 1709 represents a primary east -west route for residents of northeast Tarrant County; and
WHEREAS, Pearson Lane -Union Church Road represent a primary north -south route for residents of
northeast Tarrant County, especially residents of Southlake and Keller; and
WHEREAS, FM 1709, Pearson Lane and Union Church Road are identified on the City's Master
Thoroughfare Plan; and
WHEREAS, daily traffic counts have increased along FM 1709, Pearson Lane, and Union Church has
increased significantly in the past five years; and
WHEREAS, the unimproved intersection has resulted in increased traffic congestion, worsening air quality,
reduced level of service and potential delay in emergency response; and
WHEREAS, construction of the ultimate intersection is critically needed in this area for efficient and safe
movement of vehicular traffic; and
WHEREAS, the construction of the ultimate intersection will improve access to and from adjacent
commercial sites; and
WHEREAS, public support for the project has already been received in the form of dedicated right -of -way
for the roadway; and
WHEREAS, the City of Southlake has prepared engineering plans for this project; and
WHEREAS, the City of Southlake will provide a 50% local funding match and will indicate this project in
the city's Capital Improvements Program.
BE IT RESOLVEDBY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS, THAT:
Section 1. The application for funding from the Tarrant County 2006 Transportation Bond Program for
construction of the FM 1709 /Pearson Lane/Union Church Road is hereby authorized and endorsed.
Section 2. The resolution shall take effect upon its passage and approval.
PASSED AND APPROVED this the day of , 2005.
ATTEST:
City Secretary
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
APPROVED:
Mayor
City Attorney