Infra Insight Blog

Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) officials executed a Facility Agreement  with NTE Mobility Partners Segments 3 LLC (Developer) on March 1 for Segments 3A and 3B of the North Tarrant Express project in northeast Tarrant County.  The agreement provides for the expansion of Interstate 35W in north Fort Worth, one of the region’s top priorities for congestion relief.  Segments 3A and 3B are the primary focus of the North Tarrant Express Master Development Plan, and will add approximately 10 miles of I-35W to the North Tarrant Express project.

Pursuant to the Facility Agreement, the Developer will finance, design and build Segment 3A (the 6.5 mile portion of the road from I-30 to north of I-820) and TxDOT will build Segment 3B (the 3.3 mile section from north of I-820 to North Tarrant Parkway). The Developer will then be responsible for operation and maintenance of both segments, and will collect tolls generated on the managed toll lanes until 2061. Work under the agreement includes rebuilding existing lanes and adding two managed toll lanes in each direction of I-35W from north of Interstate 30 near downtown Fort Worth to the U.S. 287 split south of Alliance Airport.  Construction is expected to begin by mid-year and scheduled to be substantially completed by mid-2018.

The project will provide over $1.5 billion of needed infrastructure to the Fort Worth area, as well as operations and maintenance over the next several decades. The estimated funding sources for the project delivery include $270 million of private activity bonds,  $530 million subordinated Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan and a $440 million equity contribution from the Developer, as well as construction and funding commitments from TxDOT and the North Central Texas Council of Governments of $330 million.

The executed agreement for the NTE Segments 3A & 3B Facility is available on TxDOT’s website.