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Item 5DCity of Southlake Department of Planning MEMORANDUM August 10, 2005 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Ken Baker, AICP, Planning Director SUBJECT: Resolutions 05 -039 requesting the construction of FM 1938 from FM 1709 to the city limits (north) be included as a project in the Tarrant County 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 (50 %) 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 data base. 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 has already recommended 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. City Council passed resolutions at its August 2, 2005 meeting in support of these projects. In addition to the projects above, city staff is recommending that the construction of FM 1938 (Phase II) from FM 1709 to the city limits (north) be submitted to the County for consideration (4 -lane divided roadway). The estimated project cost for the FM 1938 project in Southlake is approximately $8 million. The project has not been funded at this time; however, it is expected that a NCTCOG joint- venture call for projects will occur in the fall of 2005 or the spring of 2006. The city will submit FM 1938 as a project for funding under this upcoming joint- venture call for projects. If the FM 1938 project is included as part of the County bond package, the North Central Texas Council of Government will be the funding source responsible for the 50% local matching dollars. KMB /kmb Attachment A- Resolution 05 -039 RESOLUTION NO. 05 -039 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 FM 1938 (PHASE II) FROM FM 1709 NORTH TO THE CITY LIMITS. WHEREAS, State Highway 114 and Farm to Market Road 1709 represent primary east -west means of access for northeast Tarrant County; and WHEREAS, S. H. 114 and F. M. 1709 do not have an adequate north -south connection to serve increasing commercial and residential development demands; and WHEREAS, construction of F. M. 1938 as a four lane divided roadway from S. H. 114 to F. M. 1709 has been proposed as part of the regional transportation network for many years; and WHEREAS, F. M. 1938 is shown on the Town's /City's Thoroughfare Plan as a major arterial; and WHEREAS, a north -south arterial is critically needed in this region for efficient and safe movement of vehicular traffic; and WHEREAS, constructing F. M. 1938 from S. H. 114 to F. M. 1709 completes a gap in the regional transportation network and connects Loop 820 and S. H. 114, two controlled- access state facilities; and WHEREAS, the FM 1938 (Phase II) project will be submitted in the North Central Texas Council upcoming joint- venture call for projects; and WHEREAS, the North Central Texas Council of Government through the joint venture call for projects will serve as the funding source for the 50% matching cost share; and WHEREAS, the Town of Westlake /City of Keller /City of Southlake will provide right -of -way within the town's /city's corporate town/city limits and fund a portion of engineering costs. BE IT RESOLVED BY 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 1938 (Phase II) is hereby authorized and endorsed. Section 2. The resolution shall take effect upon its passage and approval. PASSED AND APPROVED this the day of 12005. ATTEST: City Secretary APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED: Mayor City Attorney