dallas

NTTA is removing the last remnants of cash toll collection on its six toll facility system in the Dallas area. The last cash tolls were collected over two years ago - in December 2010. Conversion to all-electronic tolling (AET) only involves opening up a regular section of highway through the toll plaza area and installing toll equipment over and within the roadway at the new AET toll point.

There's often rivalry in the bigger states between metro area or large county-based roller and the state DOT. Think Florida DOT and OOCEA and Tampa HEA. In Texas most of the rivalry is in Dallas between TxDOT and North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA.)

TxDOT tends to favor farming new toll projects out to investors in a public private partnership (P3) or toll concession whereas NTTA favors the traditional in-house development, financing, and operations as well as the risk taking.

CDM (formerly Wilbur) Smith continue to do the traffic and revenue work for the established toll facilities of North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) and full system forecasting. But C&M Associates get the new stuff - the Chisholm Trail and western extension of the President Geo Bush Turnpike are mentioned. Also apparently the Trinity Parkway, although that is not part of the announcement.

The board of directors of North Texas Tollway have confirmed a continuation of 70mph as the posted speed limit on the eastern extension of the President George Bush Turnpike (Tx78 in Garland to I-30 in Rowlett.)

2012-05-09: North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) is renewing its development of the difficult Trinity Parkway, with the project having just gotten the strong support of the Mayor of Dallas, Mike Rawlings. Development and permitting of the project goes back about 14 years.

North Texas Tollway Authority have recruited a car dealership to act as an agent to sign up motorists for TollTag transponder accounts. Sewell Cadillac of 7310 Lemmon Avenue in Dallas is the new location  - on the edge of the Dallas Love Field Airport, a short drive west from the Dallas North Tollway on Lovers Lane.

North Texas Tollway Authority has started a competitive procurement of traffic and revenue (T&R) consultants, one of six areas of consulting that the Dallas-Ft Worth TX toller is putting out for bid this year. NTTA was strongly criticized for an over-cozy relationship with Wilbur Smith Associates, now CDM Smith, although it has done rather well in bringing new tollroads in reasonably close to forecast.

The President George Bush Turnpike eastern extension (PGBT-EX) main lanes opened today (Dec 21) connecting the PGBT in Garland at SH78 to I-30. The 9.9 mile 15km pike cost $958m and comprises part of an envisaged belt route around the Dallas metro area.

A 2x3 main lanes highway it has a one-mile long bridge over Dallas' Lake Hubbard. Groundbreaking took place in August 2008.

Motorists traveling west on the Sam Rayburn Tollway TX121 and wanting to go south on US75/Central Expressway have a splendid new direct connector ramp that allows them to a gentle left turn without the need to slow. The North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) opened the ramp Saturday Mar 12 about 7pm.

North Texas Tollway will be doing full road closures on two Sundays and partial closures the following Mondays and Tuesdays to expedite removal of the remnants of two mainline toll plazas on the Dallas North Tollway.