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Item 5HCity 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. KMB /kmb 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