Motorists traveling State Highway 183, also known as Airport Freeway, are one step closer to traveling more efficiently on additional lanes. The Texas Department of Transportation recently issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for development of the SH 183 Managed Lanes Project, which spans from SH 121 to I-35E and could include connecting roadways, pending legislative approval. 

“This is a major step in relieving traffic and improving safety for Texans on a highway that has remained relatively unchanged since 1973,” said Phil Wilson, TxDOT executive director. “We are excited about the possibility of accelerating the construction schedule of the project and providing a high-quality product at the greatest value.”

Through a Comprehensive Development Agreement, TxDOT will partner with a company chosen from the RFQ to design, build and maintain the SH 183 Managed Lanes Project. Phase 1 of the project, estimated at $1.4 billion, will replace deteriorating roadway structures and add one to two managed toll lanes in both directions of travel. The project will improve mobility by expanding 13.5 miles of the corridor in the western portion of Dallas County and eastern portion of Tarrant County.

State Highway 183 ranks as #47 on the state’s list of 100 Most Congested Roadways. One quarter of all Metroplex traffic travels the corridor daily. Current traffic volumes on SH 183 average between 120,000 to 168,000 vehicles per day; 50 percent more vehicles than the highway is designed to carry.

A Request for Proposals will be issued after completion of the RFQ process later this year with first phase of construction planned to start in 2014. 

Source: Texas Department of Transportation

By Phil Cerroni

A question in the mind of anyone driving down either Hwy 183 or Hwy 114 is what does the City of Irving plan to do with the dried-out dustbowl that used to be Texas Stadium? More importantly, when are they going to do anything with it?

The City has already created renderings for what is being called the “Signature Bridge,” a sweeping, cotemporary structure that will connect the 78 acres remaining from the former Texas Stadium grounds to 218 acres of virtually empty land across Hwy 114. Besides providing easy access to the DART station for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic, the bridge gives the City the option of creating one, massive district.

Residents will be happy to know that they should not have to pay a cent for this shiny, new bridge.

Photo courtesy of City of Irving.

“This bridge is being built with funds that were generated through the use of the site – ticket holders and that type of thing – and those funds have already been collected,” Doug Janeway, Irving’s Chief Development Officer for Real Estate and Development assured.

Combined with the DART station, the Signature Bridge will be the principle mans of getting in and out of the new area.

“Since the rail is on the frontage there, you can't really cross the rail other than across this bridge,” Janeway said.

The City also plans to connect two neighboring lots of 69 and 85 acres respectively in order to make them part of this development. For example, recently installed high tension wires were placed high enough so that there is clearance for a bridge to go in from the existing Texas Plaza Bridge to the these vacant lots.

“All the deals we've had with TxDOT and the utility companies have been geared towards maintaining good connections for roadways,” Janeway said. “Every day that they get closer to completing the entire infrastructure around the stadium site, that site becomes more valuable and more developable.”

The bridge, which is planned as part of Phase II of the Diamond Interchange, is cued behind a handful of current and pending TxDOT projects in the area, including the ongoing I-635 improvements and future work to widen Hwy 183. For the time being, the stadium site is being used to stage equipment and materials for these enterprises.

Nestled directly in the middle of North and South Irving, the new “Diamond District” will have the opportunity to be a new and unique part of Irving, and although the City does not know exactly how it wants to develop the land, it will be a massive expansion. When connected, the four adjacent lots will equal about 500 acres of usable space.

Neither the bridge nor the district will be realized for a number of years, however. Phase II also includes improvements on Hwy 183, Hwy 114, and Spur 348, and Janeway said that it would be wise to consider this project like the I-635 expansion – a five year deal. The City is not letting the long timeframe slow down their preparations, however.

“Out next steps are to move forward with the final design and continue to partner with TxDOT to bring the whole project to fruition through our connections with the State, RTC and all the various regional players,” Janeway continued. “This will serve as a gateway to Irving and as a catalyst for what's going on out there.”

By Jessie Burke 

The Irving League of Women Voters met at the West Irving Library to review their current league support positions on Feb. 26.

The meeting was a preliminary one, not to vote on positions, but to act as a refresher for members on what issues in Irving the league currently finds important and to encourage members to start researching them.
“It’s important to have these sort of reviews in the league, so we can make sure that we are putting forth our efforts where they are most needed,” League president Mona Wyatt said. “We need to see where we may have accomplished all we can, or where an issue may have already been resolved, and then continue to focus on taking action where it is still needed.”

For new member Barbara Doyle, the meeting was an opportunity to learn about what the League supports, and more about the issues in Irving themselves.

“I joined the league because I wanted to get involved in the community,” said Doyle, who was previously a member of a New York league chapter. “It’s extremely important to me to be aware of what is happening in your area, to get the word out, to do what you can to make a change.”

The League Program consists of a limited number of governmental issues chosen by the membership for study and action. Issues presented at Tuesday’s meeting were divided into eleven categories; Child Care, Mental Health, Urban Planning, Administration of Justice, Mass Transportation, Irving Public Education, City Public Libraries, Youth Substance Abuse, Waste Management, Kids at Risk and Domestic Violence.
“When examining an issue we need to first see if it’s something we’re passionate about, something we really want to see change,” Wyatt said at the beginning of the meeting. “After that, the next step is to see if there is something we can do about it. If it is a state or federal issue, then there is not a lot of action we can personally take. If it’s local then there is a lot more we can do.”

Wyatt did say, however, if it is something bigger that they feel strongly about, they can recommend it to the Texas State League for consideration.

There were several issues discussed during the meeting that many members already feel passionate about retaining: in particular, education and school budgets. Texas has recently fallen to 49 out of 50 in the ranking of school spending per pupil in the U.S., which is a great concern for the people of Irving who care about the success of their students and hope to see that ranking raised in the coming years.
Another city program where several members of the league wanted to see a change is recycling. In Irving, residents wishing to recycle must currently purchase a roll of blue bags from the city, or local grocery store, in order to put out their recyclables.

“For some people going out and getting those bags, or having to pay extra for them is difficult,” programs co-chair Dagmar Metzler said. “I would like to see that made easier for everyone. I believe making it more convenient would do more to encourage the people of Irving to recycle.”
Before the league can officially decide together what to continue taking action on, Wyatt encourages members to collect further information and review the issues on their own, in order to make informed decisions. As the league is nonpartisan, all programs are viewed and presented in a non-biased way.

“We don’t approach any issue from a particular party,” Wyatt said. “Rather we say ‘Why is this important for everyone?’ When we go to a member of congress we are able to say not only what we want changed, but why something needs to be done with facts and research, and why it is important for everyone, not just why we personally think it is.”

The meeting is a prelude to the League convention in May, during which they will present which programs they wish to pursue for the following year. Once the league chooses to take action on something, they do so through lobbying on the appropriate government level, presenting the League's views at public hearings, sponsoring correspondence or interviews with public officials, campaigning for public support, and forming or joining group coalitions.

“We are passionate about Irving,” Metzler said. “This our community, we are passionate about making a change.”

By Amanda Casanova 

Coppell voters will have a chance in May to decide on whether to support a $79.5 million bond package for improvements to the school district. The Coppell Independent School District voted at meetings on Feb. 25 to set a single proposition for voters.

“It’s a lot of money, but it’s an investment in our futures and our students and in this community that we love,” David Apple, vice president for the school board, said. “I feel very confident in this community supporting this and I think it’s going to pass.”

Within the package is a proposal for $27 million in renovations to Coppell High School, such as expanding the school’s gym and the athletic field house.

The second largest part of the package is the construction of a $21 million two-story elementary school. The school will be the district’s first Net-Zero school, an energy producing facility, and will feature a rain collection system and rooftop butterfly garden.

Coppell’s proposed 10^th elementary school will be located around North Lake north of Interstate 635.

If voters approve the bond, the average homeowner will see a $159 annual hike in taxes, according to Sid Grant, Coppell ISD assistant superintendent.

Early voting on the bond package begins April 29 and Election Day is May 11.

“It is needed,” Anthony Hill, board president, said. “Additional space is needed. This is not something that is above and beyond. Those facilities have been stretched beyond their capacities, but the students and staff go out and do a great job with them and we appreciate that.”

The last bond election was in 2009 for $55.9 million in remodeling, safety upgrades and technology improvements.