Title
Consider/Discuss/Act on a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Request the Release of a Portion of FM 543 from US 75 to CR 206, from the State Highway System to Accommodate the Realignment of FM 543 Immediately North of US 75.
Summary
MEETING DATE: June 7, 2011
DEPARTMENT: Development Services / Engineering
CONTACT: Carla Easton, P.E., Civil Engineer
Jack Carr, P.E., Director of Engineering
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
• Approval of the Resolution.
ITEM SUMMARY:
• This Resolution authorizes the City Manager to request the release of a portion of FM 543 from US 75 to CR 206 (approximately 8000 feet north of US 75), from the state highway system in order to accommodate the realignment of the intersection of FM 543 at US 75.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
• TxDOT is currently designing the section of US 75 from Bloomdale Road to Telephone Road near the northern city limits line.
• According to the TxDOT schedule this section of US 75 will be under construction in 2012.
• With the US 75 construction project the FM 543 interchange will be reversed, with the main lanes of US 75 crossing over FM 543 where currently FM 543 crosses over US 75.
• Also, the City thoroughfare plan shows the alignment of this arterial roadway to cross US 75 at a near perpendicular configuration.
• TxDOT has provided verbal commitment that they will construct the section of FM 543 crossing US 75 in the alignment needed to conform to our thoroughfare plan as long as the construction of the new section of arterial roadway north of US 75 is completed in a timely manner.
• The Capital Improvements Program includes an arterial roadway project called FM 543 Connector which is currently under design and will provide the realignment necessary for the US 75 project.
• The TxDOT processes for design and acquisition of right-of-way take a much longer time and are more costly to implement; therefore, in order to meet the TxDOT schedule for the US 75 project, the FM 543 Connector project must be designed and constructed as an off system roadway.
• In order for the realigned section to be constructed as an off system roadway the affected section of the current alignment of FM 543 must be removed from the TxDOT highway system, including adjacent segments as required by TxDOT policy.
• After a highway is removed from the TxDOT highway system the underlying governmental agency will be responsible for the maintenance of the removed section.
• This section of FM 543 is located in our unincorporated extraterritorial jurisdiction in an area that will ultimately be located within McKinney but it has not yet been annexed and without the action proposed by this Interlocal Agreement the maintenance responsibility would be that of Collin County.
• The City is requesting the removal of the section of FM 543 from the TxDOT highway system in an effort to reduce the cost and the time required to construct the roadway; therefore, it seems appropriate that the City take the responsibility for the roadway maintenance.
• A concurrent agenda item recommends approval of a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an Interlocal Agreement with Collin County regarding maintenance responsibilities for the above noted section of FM 543.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY:
• The design of the arterial roadway realignment is authorized under the current design contract for ST6091.
• Right-of-way research and documentation necessary to support this request is authorized under the current design contract for the FM 543 Connector project.
• TxDOT has scheduled to construct an asphalt overlay on the existing asphalt pavement for FM 543 this summer, including the roadway section to be removed from the state system.
• This proposed overlay will provide a durable roadway surface that will significantly reduce any short-term maintenance needs for this roadway.
BOARD OR COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
• N/A