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Tollway authority updates county on projects, crackdown plans
By Dan Eakin, deakin@starlocalnews.com
The North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) has experienced tremendous growth during the past 15 years, and several more projects are planned for the near future.
Gerald Carrigan, NTTA executive director, gave a progress report Monday to the Collin County Commissioners Court. Accompanied by NTTA Board Vice Chairman Bill Moore and NTTA Board Director Jane Williard, both of whom are Collin County appointees to the board, Carrigan gave a detailed report of past, present and future NTTA projects.
NTTA revenue growth totals have been phenomenal during the last 15 years, he said. Total revenue in 1997 was $66.3 million, compared to an expected $480.8 million this year. Of that amount, the toll revenue was $53.8 million in 1997, and $459 million this year.
Most recent and active NTTA projects have included the opening of the Lewisville Lake Toll Bridge between Lake Dallas and Little Elm at a cost of $122 million; the opening of the Sam Rayburn Tollway, which cost $639 million; and George Bush Turnpike extensions, both east and west at a cost of more than $1.5 billion.
Future projects include adding a fourth lane to the George Bush Turnpike at a cost of $35 million, and $110 million budgeted for a fourth lane to portions of the Dallas North Tollway.
In the distant future, NTTA planners are also looking at extending the Dallas North Tollway from U.S. Highway 380 in Collin County to Farm-to-Market 121 in Grayson County.
Carrigan also told the commissioners of plans to begin cracking down on people who continue to use the toll roads and refuse to pay toll fees after being billed numerous times.
He said 8 percent of the drivers on NTTA roads are not paying toll-road fees, with 92 percent paying when asked.
Lawsuits are expected to be filed against the most serious violators beginning next month. The NTTA will focus first on those who have more than 100 unpaid notices and who have been sent multiple requests for payment for more than six months.
"Many of them have just ignored opportunities to pay over and over again," Carrigan said.
Seventy-five percent of travelers on the toll roads have toll tags, while 25 percent are billed using ZipCash, NTTA's pay-by-mail program.
NTTA will be able to stop violators from using the toll roads because their license plate numbers are on file at NTTA headquarters.
A top toll-violators list, as well as other information, is available at www.ntta.org.
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