We have included information regarding the construction of Golden Triangle on the City's web site. It can be accessed through the Orange construction sign. We also included a link to TxDOT inasmuch as it is a TxDOT managed project. We will update the site weekly or as frequently as conditions change that the public should be informed about. Please let me know if you have any questions or comments on the web site.
Thanks!
Bill
William A. Verkest, P.E.
Director
Transportation and Public Works Department 1000 Throckmorton Street Fort Worth, Texas 76102
817-392-7801
william.verkest@fortworthgov.org
posted 12.09.10
Dear NFW Friends:
With Golden Triangle construction underway, I wanted to brief you on Old Denton Road/North Riverside Drive as follows:
1. From Golden Triangle to Heritage Trace Parkway - This construction is being financed through an innovative financing plan involving the North Tarrant Parkway Tax Increment Financing (TIF) aka TIF 7 and the use of aviation mineral lease revenue. This section of Old Denton Rd/North Riverside is part of this TIF district. The TIF district ends up north right up to Golden Triangle.
Impact fees will pay for the design of the improvements. An estimated $10.4 in Aviation Mineral Lease revenue in the form of a loan w/interest will be used. This loan is to be approved in later 2011/early 2012.
The TIF will provide the source of funds for reimbursement of the loan with interest (approximately 4.26 percent currently). Current estimate is the TIF would pay off the loan with interest in eight years.
This section of Old Denton/North Riverside was selected because of the schools right off this section of roadway as well as a new hospital coming soon to the area.
2. From Heritage Trace Parkway to Dalton - This section is being improved now with traffic signals and will be ready to go when the new Kroger Markeplace opens at Alliance Town Center in January 2011. Current estimated opening of the store is January 12,2011.
Respectfully,
Sal Espino
District 2 Councilmember
City of Fort Worth
posted 12.07.10
Dear NFW Friends:
I am being told that Sept. 22nd at 10 am is being scheduled for the formal ground breaking for Golden Triangle. I will confirm that date one last time.
Please click here for the latest schedule for Golden Triangle.
Respectfully,
Sal Espino
District 2 Councilmember
City of Fort Worth
posted 09.20.10
Dear NFW Friends:
Per TPW and their discussions with TxDoT in Austin, here is the latest update from a TPW staff member:
I just had a discussion with the local and Austin TxDOT offices and they indicated the following:
The Contract was awarded on July 29.
Contract documents were sent to the Contractor early last week. The contractor has until the middle of next week to return those documents, signed and all required attachments provided.
The contractor indicated to me (I spoke to him after I spoke with TxDOT) that they expect to have the documents back to TxDOT by the end of this week.
If TxDOT is okay with all of that documentation, they will issue a Work Order Authorization which includes a date at which time charges will begin. That Authorization will be in the form of a letter to the local offices. The local office based upon that letter will set a pre-construction conference.
Further Update: TxDOT said that their Preconstruction Meeting would be held within the next 2 weeks (August 16 - 27).
Respectfully,
Sal Espino
District 2 Councilmember
City of Fort Worth
posted 08.16.10
Dear North Fort Worth Residents:
At tonight's council meeting, council voted 7-2 for a Planned Development Specific Use (PDSU) for all uses in E plus pawnshops and MU1plus pawnshops., but also to require a site plan for 13 pawnshops - none in District 2.
This does not increase the number of pawnshops in our city.
Prior to this vote, there was much inaccurate information and I received a few ugly emails. I was accused of being anti-neighborhood. That is wrong, and inaccurate. Of course, it was none of you for you know how to engage in civil, positive, proactive discourse.
And at the meeting, while the FW League of Neighborhoods correctly stated they were not attacking pawnshops and the rep gave a solid presentation, most speakers expressed the view that it was indeed about pawnshops, the interest rates they charged, and casting aspersions on the integrity of councilmembers..
The issue was not to increase the number of pawnshops. The issue was not to allow more payday lenders. All that was inaccurate.
The issue was simply to allow pawn shops at those 13 locations (none in District 2) the right to rebuild at their existing location if it was destroyed by fire or natural disaster, etc. CM Jordan added the amendment for a site plan which go through the Zoning Commission and City Council with public process. This was a fair, reasonable, and principled compromise.
No pawnshops in District 2 are affected by this vote as the approximately 6 pawnshops in District 2 already have the right to build. So, while some may not like pawnshops, it really was a private property rights issue.
Interest rates are regulated by the state and the federal govt't. Pawn shops are highly regulated by the state and there are distance requirements of 2miles or 1 miles that they be from each other. . During my entire tenure on the council, I have not voted to approve a zoning change for a new pawn shop in District 2.
There was also the argument that by doing this, council would "open the door" to undo the rezoning of many neighborhoods from duplex zoning to single family zoning, and downzoning of vacant parcels of land zoned mult-family inconsistent with the City's Comprehensive Plan.
We have rezoned the Diamond Hill, Far Greater Northside, Marine Park, Scenic Bluff, and Oakhurst neighborhoods as well as some vacant parcels of land in Far NFW to a lesser use. None of that is in jeopardy.
Lastly, there was an argument about precedent. However, in the law, there is a term "a set of factually distinguishable facts". In other words, there are unique facts that do not create precedent. That is what we have here. Pawnshops are highly regulated by state law.
In closing, when I spoke to some of you, once I explained what was actually transpiring, there was not much opposition.
Thanks to all for your continued advocacy for our communities and our cities.
Respectfully,
Sal Espino
District 2 Councilmember
City of Fort Worth
posted 05.05.10
Staff contacted the Texas Department of Transportation and a traffic signal is being designed for the interchange of IH-35W and Heritage Trace Pkwy. The signal construction is schedule to be let in October this year and TxDOT staff anticipates the work to be completed by spring of 2011.
Thanks,
J. Mark Mathis, P.E.
Traffic Services Manager
Transportation and Public Works Department
mark.mathis@fortworthgov.org
posted 05.05.10
Dear North Fort Worth Friends:
Please see information about the T's public meetings which were posted in the Star-Telegram and on the T's website.
We need Far NFW residents to advocate for a future rail line north past Loop 820 and eventually into Denton and of course better bus service that includes more routes north of Loop 820. This includes working with the Denton County Transit Authority since some of our North Fort Worth subdivisions are in Denton County.
You can also go online to www.the-t.com and provide comments if you cannot these meetings.
I have also met with city staff. We will be putting together a Focus on North Fort Worth work sessions with Far NFW HOA Presidents or HOA reps to meet with city staff and me. The goal is to discuss and develop further strategies on land use, roads, rail, and capital facilities for Far NFW. We are working on making this happen in May. I will keep you posted.
Appreciate your leadership in our North Fort Worth communities.
Respectfully,
Sal Espino
District 2 Councilmember
City of Fort Worth
posted 04.21.10
Update from City of Ft Worth
At the Annual Meeting there were quite a few questions regarding roads in North Ft. Worth. During a recent community meeting, I asked Councilman Espino to send out an email detailing these projects. The following is that email. I will continue to update the community as information becomes available.
Dear North Fort Worth Friends:
Here is the timeline on North Fort Worth road projects I mentioned at a recent community meeting:
1. Golden Triangle - . Because federal dollars were involved, an environmental review was required. That is expected to come soon from the Federal Highways Administration and construction letting is expected for July 2010 with work to start shortly thereafter once a contractor is selected.
2. North Beach/Alta Vista - North Beach was included in the May 2008 $150M bond program approved by the voters. This included North Beach from Timberland to Keller Hicks, from Keller Hicks to Golden Triangle, and then from the Alta Vista/North Beach gap from Vista Meadows to Shiver Rd. Thus, North Beach will be 4 four lanes from Timberland to North Tarrant Pwky. Construction is expected to start this summer 2010 on North Beach from Keller Hicks to Golden Triangle, and from Keller Hicks to Timberland.
The other portion of North Beach from Golden Triangle to Shiver Rd (essentially widening from Vista Meadows where it narrows to two lanes down to Shiver Rd) depends on bond capacity and the city's ability to service this debt. The bonds were approved in the 2008 bond program, but have not yet been issued. We will know more after this year's budget on this section of North Beach. I am trying to have more of the .855 cents per $100 valuation tax rate dedicated to I/S (interest/service) so we can have more debt capacity.
3. Traffic signals at Heritage Trace Pwky and Old Denton Rd and at Heritage Trace Pwky and North Beach - These traffic signals are slated for installation in summer 2010.
4. Old Denton Road/North Riverside - This road was not included in the 2008 bond program as part of the $150M bond program.
However, Old Denton Rd/North Riverside between Heritage Trace Parkway and North Tarrant Parkway is in the boundary of the North Tarrant Parkway Tax Increment Financing District (TIF). Under a TIF, the additional taxes that are generated after a TIF is created are reinvested in the TIF project boundaries. This TIF essentially includes Alliance Town Center and across I35W the proposed retail, residential and retail mixed use project known as Presidio Vista. The TIF helped pay for North Tarrant Parkway improvements (eg the interchange at I35W and North Tarrant, North Tarrant from Rainy Lake to I35W, and the additional improvements you see on the other side of I35W). I am in the very early discussions with city staff on the potential for using the TIF dollars as a source for widening this roadway particularly since a new Kroger Marketplace is coming Dec. 2010/January 2011. Other retail coming includes the following:
BJ’s Brewhouse – Opening in February
Rooms to Go – Opening in June
Olive Garden – Opening late Summer
Cousin’s BBQ – Opening Fall 2010
This is all very preliminary and has not been approved. It will require the consensus of city staff and the TIF Board of Directors which includes reps from the local taxing entities (county, college district, and hospital district) and developers-Hillwood, and others. TIF dollars do not impact the general fund - it's a special tax increment district. Legally, the additional traffic created by a new grocery store provides the justification for such improvements.
The part of Old Denton Rd/North Riverside by the new school further north will have some improvements but only by the school. I will find out more details from city staff. There is no funding for completely widening all of Old Denton Rd/North Riverside from Heritage Trace Parkway to Golden Triangle and then to SH 170.
5. Ray White from North Tarrant to Shiver Rd is also slated to be widened as part of the $15M in unrestricted gas well revenues dedicated to roads in 2008. I will need to ask staff for the latest timeline and the impact of the RaceTrac. This project is also deeply important.
6. Timberland-Timberland - Working on plan with developer for opening Timberland from North Beach/Alta Vista to Caylor. No funding yet to go on Timberland from Caylor to US 377. Asking staff for update and timeline.
Respectfully,
Sal Espino
District 2 Councilmember
City of Fort Worth
posted 02.16.10 |
