Town of Flower Mound, Texas

2121 Cross Timbers Road
Flower Mound, Texas 75028
972.874.6000

For service requests or questions, email
townhall@flower-mound.com
or call 972.539.SERV. After hours, please call 972.539.0525.

Morriss Road/Gerault Road project

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the scope of the project?
A: This is a roadway capacity expansion project that includes the addition of two lanes within the existing median. In addition, improvements to various intersections will be examined during project design.

2. Why is the project necessary?
A: The project is needed to serve the short-term and long-term traffic demands projected for the Morriss/Gerault Road corridor. Even with the increased capacity provided by the two new lanes, long-range traffic volumes will exceed capacity on Morris/Gerault Road, FM 2499, and Garden Ridge.

3. How will the new lanes affect traffic?
A: The addition of two lanes to Morriss and Gerault will provide the necessary near-term capacity to accommodate planned growth in the corridor and to serve as an alternate north-south corridor for Flower Mound residents. Planned improvements to the intersection of Gerault at FM 2499 will also improve access to the scheduled improvements on FM 2499 associated with the DFW Connector project. In addition, improvements to the interchanges of SH 121 at Freeport Parkway and Grapevine Mills Parkway will result in the Gerault-to-Lakeside-to-SH 121 route being a viable alternative to FM 2499 for Flower Mound commuters.

4. How will traffic flows be impacted if the expansion does not take place?
A: If the capacity improvements are not made, the same north-to-south traffic demands will exist in these corridors, resulting in higher congestion levels, undesirable cut-through traffic in neighborhoods, increased commute times and delays, and higher vehicle emissions.

5. What is the anticipated project schedule?
A: Project design is anticipated to take approximately 12 months, and construction will last 12 to 18 months. As such, project design would be complete in the summer of 2010 and construction would be complete mid-to-late 2011.

6. Is this a State, County, or Town project?
A: This is a Town of Flower Mound project.

7. Who has final authority to approve the expansion project?
A: The Town Council will consider and vote on this project in two stages; the award of design and the award of construction contracts.

8. How is the project being funded?
A: No Flower Mound ad valorem or sales tax funding is being utilized to make these improvements. This project is being funded through three separate outside sources. The first source of funding is SH 121 Toll revenue, the second source is Denton County Roadway Bond revenue, and the third source is the developer of The River Walk at Central Park. In order to obtain this funding, the Town competed with other governmental agencies and projects, and the Morriss/Gerault corridor was evaluated, ranked for need and impact, and judged funding-worthy by several regional and state transportation agencies.

As depicted on the map below, the more than $165 million, that the Town and its mobility partners are scheduled to receive from outside sources, will allow us to move forward with the following roadway improvements: FM 407, FM 1171 Expansion (West of Shiloh), HWY 377 Expansion, Flower Mound Road Expansion, Dixon Lane Expansion (East of FM 2499), Morriss/Gerault Expansion, Garden Ridge Boulevard Phase III, Spink Road Phase IV, and Kirkpatrick Phase III .

9. Is there a deadline to utilize the funding?
A: Yes, the largest portion of funding for this project is the SH 121 Toll revenue totaling $13.2 million. The Town will have 10 years to complete construction from the date of a funding agreement being executed. The Town anticipates a funding agreement to be executed within the next two months.

10. Can the funding be used for other purposes or projects?
A: If the Town decided to not use the SH 121 Toll revenue on the Morriss/Gerault improvement project, the designated funding will return to the region and any other project would compete with projects from other local agencies and/or the State. The Denton County Commissioners Court will have the option to reallocate bond funds throughout the County.

11. Where will the new lanes be constructed, and will additional rights-of-way or property be needed?
A: No additional right-of-way will be required for the two new lanes because they will be constructed in the existing medians. However, intersection and safety improvements included in Phase 1 of the project will require additional right-of-way for items such as turn lanes, visibility clips, and structural elements. The Town has spent approximately $1.11 million on right-of-way acquisition for this project.

12. How will the overall aesthetics of the Morriss/Gerault corridor be affected?
A: The median section of Morriss/Gerault will be narrowed by approximately 25 feet; however, the remaining 16 to 24-foot-medians, and some medians ranging up to 54 feet, will be landscaped to improve the overall aesthetic character of the corridor. The existing parkways will remain unaltered with the potential exception of isolated locations where right-turn lanes may be added.

13. Will Morriss/Gerault Road still have sidewalks once complete?
A: Yes, existing sidewalks will remain in place and sidewalk gaps will be connected in conjunction with the expansion project.

14. Will there be enough median left for trees, landscaping, and irrigation?
A: Yes, the trees that have been recently planted can remain and additional landscaping with irrigation is planned to be installed with the project. Some older trees that exist within the median will need to be removed with the project. In addition, the Town has enlisted the assistance of a landscape architect to create a Median and Rights-of-way Landscape Master Plan to ensure the Town’s major thoroughfares are adequately landscaped with consistent and uniform features.

15. Will the landscaping and irrigation installed in 2008 be removed or negatively impacted?
A: The landscaping and irrigation installed in 2008 were designed to accommodate the future expansion of Morriss/Gerault. However, to be consistent with the referenced Median and Rights-of-Way Landscape Master Plan, some of the landscaping could be altered or relocated, if warranted.

16. Will there be a new speed limit once the road is expanded?
A: The Town establishes speed limits in accordance with state law, which requires the speed limit to be based upon the speed of the vehicles using the roadway. During construction, the speed limit would either remain unchanged or would be lowered. Ultimately, the Town does not anticipate the permanent speed limit to change as a result of the expansion as the curvilinear design of Morriss will help control traffic speed limits on the road. The chart below illustrates the pre and post-expansion speed limits for FM 3040 and FM 2499.

Speed Limit Comparison

Road Pre-Construction Post-Construction

FM 3040 50 mph 45 mph

FM 2499 45 mph 45 mph

17. How will the expansion affect traffic noise levels along the corridor?
A: The Town anticipates that no significant impacts to noise levels would result from this project. Due to the nature of the project adding the new lanes to the center median, any additional traffic will be as far as possible from adjacent properties. Landscaping planned for the project should provide noise mitigation.

18. Will sound walls be constructed in conjunction with the expansion?
A: No, it is not projected that noise levels will necessitate a need for sound walls.

19. What kind of truck traffic will be allowed once the road is expanded?
A: The Town has established four truck routes by ordinance. Those routes are FM 2499, FM 1171, FM 407, and FM 3040. Though trucks are allowed on other roadways for purposes such as deliveries, truck traffic on non-truck routes would typically account for one to three percent of total traffic. Due to the proximity of nearby freeways, state highways, and farm-to-market roads, the Town does not anticipate any increase in the percentage of truck traffic.

20. How will the Town address school safety along the route?
A: The Town has a strong record of providing safe school routes, and the Morriss/Gerault Road corridor is no exception. The Town implements reduced-speed school zones marked with yellow flashing beacons, reduces neighborhood speed limits to 25 MPH within a quarter mile of the school, prohibits the use of hand-held wireless devices within an active school zone, and provides police patrols and crossing guards at certain school crossings. Sidewalks are also provided and a below-grade crossing exists at Morriss and Garden Road for pedestrians using the nearby trail system. In conjunction with this project, the Town will also examine improvements to the below-grade crossing as well as the installation of actuated beacons at the guarded school crossings.

21. Will median openings and left turn lane locations be affected?
A: It is anticipated that all current median opening and left-turn locations will remain unchanged once the improvements are complete. Any median openings that serve driveways or streets that currently do not have left-turn lanes will be modified to include turn lanes at those locations. In addition, during the design process, each major intersection will be evaluated to ensure that appropriate turn lanes exist for efficient operation.

22. Will any current subdivision entrances be affected?
A: There are no planned changes to subdivision access to Morriss or Gerault.

23. Have there been any community meetings or public hearings on this project?
A: Roads are typically not constructed/expanded in a timely manner before the traffic arrives due to a lack of funding, not a lack planning All of the major roads that have been constructed/expanded over the last few years, are currently being constructed/expanded, or are planned to be constructed/expanded over the next five years were on the Transportation Master Plans from the 1980’s.

There have been a number of public hearings and opportunities for public input associated with the Morriss/Gerault Road Improvement project. The 1981 Master Thoroughfare Plan, which is a component of the Town’s Master Plan, indicated that Morriss/Gerault should be a major arterial, or 6-lane divided roadway. The Master Thoroughfare Plan was adopted again in 1985 – as a component of the “Land Use and Thoroughfare Plan Flower Mound”, in 1994 as a component of the “Flower Mound Comprehensive Master Plan”, and again in 2000, 2004, and most recently in 2009 as part of the “Master Plan”, with no changes to the designation of Morriss and Gerault as major arterials. Consideration and adoption of all of the Master Thoroughfare Plans involved opportunities for public input and comment.

Additional opportunity for public input was provided annually during the Town’s budget adoption process. The Town’s budget includes the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget, which forecasts all Town-implemented projects for the next five years and beyond. During the last budget process, the widening of Morriss and Gerault was approved, with design to occur during FY 2008-2009 and construction to begin in FY 2009-2010, or as soon as design is complete.

The expansion of Morriss/Gerault was also included in the Denton County Roadway bond election held in November 2008, affording further opportunity for public input. Denton County Commissioners Andy Eads and Bobbie Mitchell provided additional details to the public at the October 20, 2008, Town Council meeting outlining the roads contained within the bond program, including Morriss/Gerault. The Denton County Roadway bond program was subsequently approved by Denton County voters on November 4, 2008.

Plans to expand Morriss/Gerault are proceeding in conjunction with The River Walk at Central Park project. The Transportation Impact Analysis (TIA) for The River Walk at Central Park project indicated that the level of service on Morriss/Gerault would be negatively impacted once the project was constructed. As a condition of the approval of this large-scale project, the developer was required to contribute toward the expansion of the roadway. This project, and the related TIA and Thoroughfare Plan, were also discussed at numerous Planning and Zoning, Town Council, and Transportation Commission meetings in 2008.

24. Will there be additional public input opportunities specific to this project?
A: The Town Council directed the Town’s Transportation Commission to host a workshop and public hearing on the Morriss/Gerault Road Improvement project. The Transportation Commission hosted a workshop regarding the project at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21 at Town Hall, 2121 Cross Timbers Road. The agenda included staff and engineering presentations. An opportunity for visitors to provide comments was provided prior to the presentations. A public hearing was subsequently held on May 26, 2009. The Transportation Commission was charged with formulating and presenting a recommendation to the Town Council. The Transportation Commission is uniquely qualified to determine appropriate design enhancements and evaluate reasonable phasing options. The mission of the Transportation Commission relevant to the Morriss/Gerault Improvement project was to:

Listen to unique citizen concerns relative to transportation.

Advise the Town Council and staff regarding changes to regulatory traffic control, prioritization of transportation improvements, changes to the Thoroughfare Plan, and implementation of the reduced neighborhood speed limit policy.

Provide recommendations to the Town Council and staff regarding the short- and long-term transportation needs of the Town.

The Transportation Commission made the following recommendation to the Town Council for consideration:

Move to recommend to the Town Council approval of the Morriss/Gerault Capacity Improvement Project with the following design, engineering, and implementation elements as follows:

the project be designed and constructed in one phase with a recommendation to the Town Council to prioritize improvements to intersections and safety features;
during design the Town will identify visibility issues that may create safety problems and identify solutions that consider both impacts and benefits, including access issues;
explore improvements and enhancements to the below grade crossing;
replace existing perimeter screening fences with the Town-standard wooden fence, and/or explore other fencing options and other methods to mitigate sound impacts;
install trees, sod, irrigation, and decorative plantings in the medians and rights-of-way, with the focus being on the full-width median sections;
commit to establishing the lowest lawful speed limit throughout the corridor; program the installation of any new warranted signals;
enhance the pedestrian routes throughout the corridor, specifically for school related pedestrian activity to include pedestrian actuated flashers, reviewing the location of school cross walks, and reviewing with Lewisville Independent School District the pedestrian and vehicular access at schools;
consider ideas that will address safety issues near any schools in the area; that Town staff review additional input from neighborhood groups, convened for the purpose of additional input during the engineering and design phases of the project;
and that median pedestrian barriers be considered in the design of the project at all areas deemed high pedestrian areas, as determined by professional staff.

The next scheduled Town Council public hearing specific to this project will be on June 15, 2009. The Town Council will also consider awarding the design contract for the Morriss/Gerault project during that meeting.

25. Has the Town conducted the necessary studies (environmental, traffic, etc.) associated with this project?
A: The Town will include the necessary water quality protection elements, such as erosion control, within the design effort for the project. Numerous studies have been conducted through the years regarding the need for Morriss/Gerault to be a major arterial. Additional studies were conducted associated with The River Walk at Central Park review process. Further, the documented need for these improvements were significant factors in the SH 121 Toll and Denton County Roadway Bond funding project selection processes.

26. Will the expansion affect property values along the Morriss/Gerault corridor or in adjacent neighborhoods?
A: The provision of adequate transportation is generally regarded as a basic local government service. As such, needed improvements such as those planned for Morriss and Gerault would not be viewed as a negative factor relative to property values. The impact of roadway expansion projects on property values was evaluated for selected subdivisions adjacent to FM 3040, expanded from two to six lanes, and FM 2499, expanded from four to six lanes between Spinks and FM 1171.

The average increase in residential property values Town-wide in 2008 was 7.39 percent. The average increase in property values for neighborhoods adjacent to FM 3040 was 5.8 percent, and for FM 2499 the average was 8.94 percent. The neighborhoods adjacent to FM 2499 and FM 3040 did not show any statistical difference in changed property values compared to the rest of the community.

Morriss

27. Will the expansion affect the crime rate along the corridor?
A: The Town does not expect any roadway project to affect crime rates. Past experience with the expansion of FM 3040 and FM 2499 revealed that crime rates dropped subsequent to the expansion of these roadways. These figures are further illustrated in the chart below.
Morriss

28. How will the project affect Fire Department, Ambulance, and Police Department emergency response times when complete?
A: Emergency response times are typically studied and examined assuming that adequate capacity exists along a given route. Then, response times are determined based upon a distance travelled and assumed speed. Typically, response times are given as an average, so there would not be an anticipated impact due to this project. However, during peak periods, response times along congested corridors can be affected on a case-by-case basis and providing adequate transportation routes is important for that reason. Research has revealed that both Police Department and Fire Department response times have continued to decrease, or improve, over the last five years – the timeframe in which both FM 3040 and FM 2499 have been expanded.
Morriss

Morriss

29. Will the expansion affect air quality in our community?
A: Due to the anticipated reduction in future congestion and delays that would result from the proposed improvements, this project is considered as a benefit to air quality.

30. How will The River Walk at Central Park development affect the project?
A: The River Walk at Central Park development is one of the near-term catalysts for this project. A Traffic Impact Analysis was completed with this project, and the developer of the project was required to contribute a proportionate share of the cost for improvements. Most mixed use developments similar to The River Walk at Central park are located near freeways so they can disperse large volumes of traffic. Legacy Town Center and Southlake Town Square are a little larger than 40 acres each and could both easily fit within the 158 acres of The River Walk at Central Park project. Southlake Town Square has FM 1709 on one side and Hwy 114 on the other side; both roads have six lanes. The roads bordering The River Walk at Central Park will have far less traffic capacity; however, the project is larger than Southlake Town Square, Parker Square, and the Shops at Highland Village combined.

31. How will the Morriss/Gerault Road corridor compare to FM 2499 and FM 1171 when complete?
A: As referenced above, landscaping of the medians is planned to occur with this project to enhance the aesthetic quality of the Morriss/Gerault corridor. Due to the curvilinear alignment of the project and the presence of numerous closely-spaced intersections typical vehicle speeds in this corridor should be lower than along FM 2499 and FM 1171. Further, the projected volumes for the Morriss/Gerault corridor are considerably lower than those projected for FM 2499 and FM 1171. Though all three corridors are classified as major arterials on the Town’s Master Thoroughfare Plan, the Town anticipates that the Morriss/Gerault corridor will be the commute route of choice for Flower Mound residents living east of FM 2499, while FM 2499 will serve more regional trips.

32. How much funding is expected from the Riverwalk developer(s) from which mechanisms; when is that money expected (dates or tied to phases); and what is that money allocated for?
A: The Riverwalk project will contribute an estimated total of $8.22 million toward roadway and sanitary sewer infrastructure improvements, of which $1.52 million is considered impact fees. Of that $8.22 million, $4.9 million is slated for the expansion of Morriss Road to six lanes. In addition to the $1.52 million in impact fees associated with direct impacts, another $5.3 million in roadway impact fees, $1.5 million in water impact fees, and $2.6 million in wastewater impact fees will be paid as the project develops to cover impacts made by the Riverwalk throughout Town. The developer has already paid $247,500 toward the Morriss expansion, half of which is considered impact fees. The remainder of the $4.9 million in Morriss funding will be paid in future phases per future updates to the TIA, and through impact fees as development occurs.

33. What minimum (and specific) actions must be completed by what dates to satisfy the advanced funding agreement for funds from 121Toll RTR (regional toll revenue)?
A: The minimum action would be to reject the funding and return it to the Regional Transportation Council. If the project proceeds, the Town would need to proceed with design now and construction within one year of receiving construction funding (i.e. October 1, 2010), and the entire project would need to be completed within 10 years of the execution of the Advance Funding Agreement (i.e. May, 2019). In addition, the Town does have the ability to request amendments to the Advance Funding Agreement and the Transportation Improvement Plan to adjust the project timing.

34. What is the process [if any] for changing the scope of the road project and still retaining funding from the 121 Toll RTR? From the TRIP-08 county bond program? From the Riverwalk developer?
A: The process would likely depend on the magnitude of the change in scope. If the change is to phase the project in over time, the RTR and County funding may not need any modifications. Further, as long as the improvements to Morriss are made concurrent with the demands created by the Riverwalk project, no modification would need to be made. However, if the change in scope included eliminating the capacity improvements (additional lanes) to Morriss or Gerault, the Town would be required to cancel the RTR and County Bond project and return the funds to RTC and request that the County reallocate the funds to other project, at the pleasure of the Commissioners Court. Further, the Town would have to review its SMARTGrowth ordinance because the demands created by the Riverwalk would not be accommodated through requisite capacity improvements, likely putting the entire policy at odds with State law.

35. If we approve a project plan (with good faith to execute it fully) that ultimately leads to a 6-lane roadway for its entire length within 10 years from the acceptance of 121 Toll RTR, and we get to year 9 and decide not to complete the full scope, is the Town obligated to return any spent funds? Or just forfeit any unspent funds?
A: Forfeit unspent funds plus interest earned.

36. For the TRIP-08 county bond funds, what are the requirements for the release of funding, the use of funding, and any other stipulations? To date, we know nearly nothing about the TRIP-08 county funding other than it totals $5.5M.
A: The TRIP-08 project that was approved is to improve Morriss and Gerault to six lanes. As with all County Bond funds spent on municipal projects, the projects are implemented to the local agency standards, with local agency procedures, and the County reimburses the local agency with its portion of the costs. In this case, the County will reimburse for 50% of the costs, up to the $5.5 million approved for the Morriss/Gerault project.

37. What is the approximate estimated cost increase of phasing construction? Specifically, we would want to know the potential cost difference between Staff's two phase construction schedule and the Transportation Commissions recommended single phase construction schedule. We understand this may be a difficult number to ascertain at this time, so we will accept any general guidelines or ranges that will help us understand the cost impact.
A: The cost to phase the project will depend on the trigger used and the amount of delay to the start of phase 2, and what is included in phase 1 and phase 2, respectively. However, assuming a 4% annual increase in construction costs (this is the rate used by NCTCOG in accounting for cost increases over time in the RTR funding process), and also assuming that phase 1 includes the widening of Gerault along with all landscaping, fencing, and safety improvements, staff estimates that the increase in project cost would be as follows:

Start Phase 2 in:
5 years - $2.27 million
6 years - $2.65 million
7 years - $3.03 million
8 years - $3.44 million

38. Is $15 per linear foot an acceptable budgetary cost estimate for the Town standard 6ft board-on-board fence? If $150 per linear foot an acceptable budgetary cost estimate for a sound wall of a configuration similar to that deployed at the Lakeshore neighborhoods on FM 2499 south of FM 3040?
A: We estimate that a wooden fence that would meet the Town's standard would cost between $15 and $20 per lineal foot, and that a sound wall such as that being constructed along the Lakeview and Northshore neighborhoods would cost between $150 and $200 per lineal foot. These estimates are based on current bids, though we would expect these numbers to increase over time.

39. What is an acceptable budgetary cost estimate for a 4ft sidewalk reconstruction? A 6ft sidewalk reconstruction?
A: The cost to replace a 4-foot sidewalk with a new 4-foot sidewalk is estimated at $20 per lineal foot. The same cost to replace a 4-foot sidewalk with a 6-foot sidewalk is $28 per lineal foot.

40. LISD has said that they will have to provide hazard bus service during the construction at a cost of $36,000 per bus (estimating 6 buses for a total annual cost of $216,000). Is Flower mound responsible for any of this cost? Does the burden fall to LISD taxpayers?
A: The Town would likely have the ability to phase construction in this area to avoid the need for buses during construction, as we have done in other areas of Town on other projects. We are not aware of LISD needing to provide this type of service as other projects have been constructed. The Town would need to have direct discussions with LISD regarding this project and any measures that we can take to avoid adding costs to LISD. That said, if these costs are required, the Town does not anticipate having responsibility to cover them. The Town does, however, cover the costs of the crossing guards and all other safety measures associated with providing safe routes to schools.

41. If LISD has to provide continued bus service after construction to service children on the west side of Morriss Rd, will Flower Mound be responsible for those costs as well?
A: The Town has been in contact with LISD regarding this project and we have not received any indication that the project would create the need to alter their busing operations. Further, they have not indicated that they have any particular post-construction concerns about safety. As has been described during previous public meetings regarding the Morriss/Gerault project, the Town intends to address safety throughout the corridor, with special emphasis in the vicinity of schools. We anticipate that these measures would be reviewed by LISD and that we will be able to satisfy any concerns that they may have regarding the provision of safe routes to schools. As with the previous question, if these costs are required, the Town does not anticipate having responsibility to cover them.

42. What would it take to replace the planned wooden fences with a sound barrier? What makes Morriss/Gerault different from FM 2499 and FM 3040?
A: The Town plans to replace existing wooden fences with new wooden fencing to meet the Town’s standard. A separate funding source is being used to replace most of the wooden fencing north of FM 1171. We estimate that the cost to replace the wooden fencing between FM 1171 and FM 3040 would be $210,000. The cost to replace all fencing with sound walls for the entire corridor would be approximately $6.5 million. Further, the Town believes that due to the fact the additional lanes will be added to the median, and additional trees and other landscaping will be planted with the project, that sound walls would not be justified. FM 2499 and FM 3040 are State-owned roadways that were subject to the State’s sound mitigation criteria, Morriss and Gerault are local facilities.

43. What is the right-of-way width throughout the corridor?
A: The right-of-way width varies between 110 feet and 140 feet between FM 1171 and FM 3040; between 110 feet and 120 feet north of FM 1171; and the right-of-way width is 120 feet along Gerault.

44. Will the estimated $4.9 million collected for the River Walk project be collected all at once?
A: The developer obligation toward the Morriss/Gerault improvements will be made over time as the project develops, through direct contributions associated with updated Traffic Impact Analyses, or through impact fees.

45. How does the Town’s traffic model work and how is it used to predict future traffic conditions?
A: The Town’s travel demand model (TransCAD) is a sophisticated stochastic GIS-based model that is the best travel demand model available for this use. It is the same model that the North Central Texas Council of Governments uses to project future traffic conditions for the region. The Town has used the model since 2001 and the Flower Mound model is a refined version of the regional model. The model is an integral tool for the SMARTGrowth Transportation Analysis. Each update to the model begins with Town-wide traffic counts, which are used to calibrate the model to existing land use and roadway networks. The Town’s adopted Master Land Use Plan is then used to generate demographic information, which, along with a built-out transportation network, are used to predict future trip-making for motorists inside and outside of Flower Mound. Demographics outside the Town limits are taken from the NCTCOG regional travel model. The Town’s model is used to predict traffic demands during horizon-year conditions, in this case, the year 2030.

46. Will the Morriss/Gerault project have to meet requirements contained in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?
A: Yes, the Town will contract with a licensed reviewer to perform reviews of the engineering plans as well as inspect the project prior to completion to ensure that the project meets ADA requirements.

47. Where can I get more information regarding the Morriss/Gerault Road improvement project?
A: Updated information will be provided via the Town of Flower Mound Web site, located at www.flower-mound.com, Flower Mound’s dedicated transportation E-Town news bulletin, and FMTV.

48. What specific project elements does each phase include?
A: Phase 1 of the Morriss/Gerault improvement project includes expanding Morriss/Gerault to six lanes from FM 2499 to FM 3040, the flyover element and entryway monument, intersection and safety improvements along the entire corridor, new sidewalk in locations where there previously was no existing sidewalk, widening most existing sidewalks to six feet, fencing along the entire roadway, and landscaping for the entire corridor including approximately 600 trees and 400 shrubs. Phase 2 includes expanding Morriss/Gerault to six lanes from FM 3040 to FM 407.

49. Why are the flyover and entryway monument needed?
A: A flyover is needed as part of the project to alleviate substantial traffic congestion at the intersection of Gerault and FM 2499. The flyover will remove the heavy southbound Gerault to southbound FM 2499 movement from the signal, thereby significantly increasing the capacity of the intersection and reducing stopped delay. This improvement will provide motorists the option of bypassing the stop light, merging with southbound FM 2499 traffic, and continuing along the roadway without stopping.

The entryway monument is included in the flyover, with a cost of just under $216,000. This element of the project will provide a beautiful landmark piece to signify entry into the community. The idea for a prominent entryway feature was envisioned during the Master Plan update process. The Master Plan Steering Committee noted in their final report that “current entrances to the Town are not well defined nor do they have any consistent theme or identity.” The committee also said that Town entrances should be prominent and provide an adequate sense of arriving at the Town of Flower Mound. As a result of this recommendation, the Town adopted the Median and Rights-of-way Master Plan in February 2010. This plan includes design guidelines for gateway monumentation, including the intersection of FM 2499 and Gerault. The Master Plan update and Median and Rights-of-way Master Plan were both a lengthy public process that included numerous opportunities for resident feedback.

50. What is the budget for Phase 1?
A: The total budget for Morriss/Gerault Phase 1 is approximately $20.3 million. The total regional toll revenue contribution after the last transportation improvement plan modification is $13,271,687, the Riverwalk developer contribution is $247,500, developer impact fees of $1.2 million, and Denton County TRIP-08 funding is $5.5 million for a total of $20.3 million.

51. Is the Town using Denton County funding for improvements in Tarrant County?
A: No. The project is being accounted for as a whole, and the Town is utilizing Denton County TRIP-08 funding for the 20 percent match required for this project. The Town does not believe that any Denton County funding should be used in Tarrant County, which is why well more than the $5.5 million in Denton County funding is being expended in Denton County. The Tarrant County segment of the project is a small portion compared to the whole. The Town’s invoices for the project are being forwarded to the County’s transportation consultant, who is making them available to the County to ensure that all TRIP-08 funding is spent in Denton County. This is above and beyond what the agreement requires.