Q: I understand the project has received the Record of Decision (ROD) from the Federal Highway Administration; what are the key components of this document and how do they relate the City’s interest in the Southwest Parkway?

Q: What is the current status of the project related to the design and construction schedules?

Q: How does the Trinity River Vision fit into the Southwest Parkway Project?

Q: There has been some press about the Southwest Parkway and budget issues for NTTA. How is the Southwest Parkway affected by the budget discussions?

Q: Thinking back on the projects Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC), Project Development Team (PDT), and Citizens Advisory Group (CAG) principles, how does the current Southwest Parkway project meet the objectives of those groups?

Q: Our citizens and community leaders have often shared their desire and interest in a Parkway facility. What are some of the elements that will be included in the completed Southwest Parkway?

Q: What are some of the treatments that will be included in neighborhood areas to reduce the effects of the Southwest Parkway?

Q: As the project moves into design and construction, how will the community monitor the project activities?

Q: What is the status of the project schedule?

Q: Who will provide law enforcement services on the SH-121T facility?

Q: Who will provide maintenance services on the SH-121T facility?

Q: It seems that some proposed ramp lengths should be shorter. How are ramp lengths determined?

Q: How long will tolls be collected on the SH-121T facility?

Q: Our neighborhood would like sound walls and landscape elements to be part of the SH-121T project. How will these elements be included?

Q: I understand the project has received the Record of Decision (ROD) from the Federal Highway Administration; what are the key components of this document and how do they relate the City's interest in the Southwest Parkway?
A: The ROD is a critical milestone in the project development process. Obtaining a ROD demonstrates that the environmental review process required under federal law has been successfully completed and the project may proceed with next steps such as detailed engineering, right-of-way purchases, final design, and construction. The ROD specifically references the current "Corridor Master Plan" (CMP) activities and specifically states that the CMP will be the guideline from which the roadway final design incorporates the project elements.

Q: What is the current status of the project related to the design and construction schedules?
A: With the ROD in hand, the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) has advertised for engineering consultants to complete the project's final design. Because of the large size of the project, NTTA will hire several firms to prepare the detailed design of the elements of the projects including the bridges, interchanges and retaining walls. The consultants hired to do the project design will use the Corridor Master Plan (CMP) as their guide to incorporate the desired and agreed upon parkway elements.

Q: How does the Trinity River Vision fit into the Southwest Parkway Project?
A: The ROD explicitly confirms the Trinity River Vision elements incorporated into the City's Locally Preferred Alternative will be implemented as part of the Southwest Parkway project. These include trailheads, pedestrian access, and special bridge treatments.

Q: There has been some press about the Southwest Parkway and budget issues for NTTA. How is the Southwest Parkway affected by the budget discussions?
A: The City of Fort Worth is committed to implementing the Southwest Parkway as soon as possible. Its commitment to fund right-of-way and provide utility services along the corridor, as well as funding enhancements for the Trinity River Vision, is a definite. The City is committed to working with NTTA and TXDOT to reduce costs where possible as long as the commitments made by the project partners as recognized in the ROD result in a parkway that fits the character of Fort Worth.

Q: Thinking back on the projects Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC), Project Development Team (PDT), and Citizens Advisory Group (CAG) principles, how does the current Southwest Parkway project meet the objectives of those groups?
A: Beginning with the CAC in the late 1990s, the citizens and community leaders have been clear on their vision for a quality parkway that reflects Fort Worth values and qualities. The PDT helped define the features and themes of the desired parkway compared to a typical urban freeway. The CAG built upon the PDT concepts to develop a defined "Nature and Character" plan for the completed roadway and associated transportation elements. The CAG's work was utilized by the City's Project Team to negotiate successfully the second amendment to the interlocal agreement among the project partners that establishes the design elements necessary to achieve the parkway desired by the community. The CAG has continued to provide leadership to the City's team who are working with NTTA and TXDOT to develop the CMP. The CMP comprehensively defines the roadway, landscape, public art, and bridge and wall materials and appearances that will be incorporated into the roadway's final design.

Q: Our citizens and community leaders have often shared their desire and interest in a Parkway facility. What are some of the elements that will be included in the completed Southwest Parkway?
A: In early 2005, NTTA, TXDOT, and City of Fort Worth representatives toured parkway facilities in the northeast and Minnesota. The tour helped solidify support for a transportation facility with a visually narrow cross section, increased plantings, and bridge and wall treatments that were sensitive to the natural and constructed environment. Some of the specific parkway roadway and landscape features included in the CMP include:

ROADWAY

• Dual roadway configuration versus single roadway
• Reduced shoulder width
• Differentiated shoulder color and texture
• Eliminated the 30’ clear zone
• Bermed median versus recessed v-ditch
• Continuous barrier at shoulder edge
• Closed-faced bridge abutments
• Ornamented bridges and railings
• Monumentation and icons at the interchanges
• Ornamented retaining wall faces
• Cross streets over Parkway at all feasible locations
• Non-standard TXDOT barrier rail
• Expanded pedestrian/bike treatments within interchange influence areas
• No high-mast lighting
• Limited roadway lighting
• Smooth bridge bottoms at high pedestrian areas
• Bridge fascias
• 50 MPH Design Speed north of Arborlawn
• Public art integrated as part of and as enhancements to the roadway


LANDSCAPING

• Landscaped/treed median
• Limited use of turf
• Landscaped roadway edges
• Preserving existing trees where possible
• Natural grading were possible
• Enhancing open drainage where possible
• Incorporating neighborhood themes at interchanges
• Terraced planters

Q: What are some of the treatments that will be included in neighborhood areas to reduce the effects of the Southwest Parkway?
A: In many areas along the corridor, noise barriers are needed to comply with Federal and State regulations. In other areas, the noise levels do not meet explicit Federal and State regulations requiring mitigation; in these areas screening walls will be constructed. Noise barriers and screening walls will be implemented in neighborhood areas along the corridor including: Sunset Terrace, Mistletoe Heights, Alamo Heights, Hulen Bend Addition, Park Palisades, and Fort Worth Country Day School. The final locations of these noise and screening walls or treatments will be based on discussions with the neighborhoods and the physical constraints and opportunities of each area along the corridor.

Q: As the project moves into design and construction, how will the community monitor the project activities?
A: As recognized in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and the ROD, TXDOT, NTTA, and the City have committed to a meaningful and continuous public outreach effort. For continuity, the City will maintain the CAG organization and enlist their input at key times during the final design stage. The City is confident that the CAG's investment in developing the Nature and Character Plan and participating in the Corridor Master Plan activities will streamline the need for input in the future. In addition to the continued access to the CAG, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), NTTA, and TXDOT have committed to providing an Environmental Quality Coordinator. The coordinator will monitor the project during construction to be sure the measures to minimize harm and the environmental mitigation measures will be implemented.

Q: What is the status of the project schedule?
A: NTTA has advertised for final design engineers. They are expected to be selected this fall and will be given their Notice-to-Proceed along with the completed Corridor Master Plan at the beginning of 2006. Final design, or "Plans, Specifications, and Estimates" (PS&E), are anticipated to take 12 to 18 months. Construction is estimated at 24 months; thus, the roadway can be expected to open in late 2009.

Q: Who will provide law enforcement services on the SH-121T facility?
A: The responsibility for law enforcement services will be identified in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will be executed among the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA), Texas Department of Transportation and the City of Fort Worth. The MOU will identify roles and responsibilities for each of the participating entities, including law enforcement, toll collection, and other areas of operations for the roadway.

Q: Who will provide maintenance services on the SH-121T facility?
A: NTTA will be responsible for providing maintenance services for the SH-121T facility.

Q: It seems that some proposed ramp lengths should be shorter. How are ramp lengths determined?
A: Ramp lengths are determined by the type of facility (for example, freeway, toll facility, etc.) and existing topography, and in Texas, are designed to conform to standards set forth by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the Texas Department of Transportation. For toll facilities, ramp lengths must be long enough to assure the safe operations of the ramp toll collection facilities and to allow for optimal merging operations on and off the mainlanes.

Q: How long will tolls be collected on the SH-121T facility?
A: The length of time tolls will be collected on the SH-121T facility will be determined by a number of factors, including the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will be executed among the North Texas Tollway Authority, Texas Department of Transportation and the City of Fort Worth. The MOU will be a critical element of the financing plan for the SH-121T facility. Typically, toll facilities collect tolls for a period of 20 to 40 years to retire the bond-based debt used to fund the initial construction and operation. Many toll roads are refinanced in later years to expand and extend the facility. As long as there is a debt obligation on the roadway, tolls will be collected.

Q: Our neighborhood would like sound walls and landscape elements to be part of the SH-121T project. How will these elements be included?
A: The SH 121 Final Environmental Impact Statement concluded, and the Record of Decision confirmed, that noise walls would be designed for the following areas:

• Mistletoe Heights Neighborhood
• Country Day School
• Park Palisades Neighborhood
• Hulen Bend Estates Neighborhood