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Project Profiles

President George Bush Turnpike Western Extension (State Highway 161)


Location	Dallas, Texas
Project Sponsor / Borrower	North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA)
Program Areas
Fiscal Year Approved	Fiscal Year 2011
Mode	Highway
Description	State Highway (SH) 161, the President George Bush Turnpike Western Extension (PGBT WE), will provide a new, approximately 11.5-mile link between SH 183, I-30, and I-20 as part of a western loop around Dallas through the cities of Irving and Grand Prairie south of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. SH161 will serve as a major link within the Dallas-Fort Worth regional transportation network, reducing congestion along adjacent corridors and improving the travel experience in surrounding communities. Overall, the project will ensure smoother and more efficient traffic flow of workers and goods by creating a parallel route to the currently congested State Highway 360. In April 2008, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) agreed to a concession with NTTA in perpetuity (with revenue and capital improvement cost sharing after 52 years) to own, operate, and complete the project's construction. The negotiated value of the agreement was $1.068 billion, including a $458 million upfront payment (plus interest) to TxDOT for prior costs incurred on Phase 4 and the obligation for NTTA to build Phase 4 of the project and the toll gantries for Phases 2 and 3 (see below). The new toll road is being constructed in four phases: Phase 1: An interchange with SH 183 and service roads from North Carrier Parkway to I-20, constructed by TxDOT (open August 2009) Phase 2: Two toll lanes in each direction from SH 183 to Egyptian Way, constructed by TxDOT (open August 2009) Phase 3: Services roads and a third toll lane in each direction from Conflans Road to North Carrier Parkway, constructed by TxDOT (open April 2010) Phase 4: Two toll lanes in each direction from North Carrier Parkway to I-20 with interchanges at I-30 and I-20, under construction by NTTA (to open fourth quarter of 2012)
Cost	Construction cost: $1.1 billion TxDOT's cost (Phases 1, 2, 3 and contribution to railroad bridge south of I-30) - approximately $541.5 million + $12 million NTTA's cost (Phases 2, 3, 4 plus railroad bridge) - $546.6 million NTTA Concession: $1.2 billion $469.1 million upfront payment (reimbursement for TxDOT construction costs and funds to be spent on eligible priority transportation project in the North Texas region, including $11.1 million in interest) $546.6 million construction obligation $167.7 million financing costs and reserves
Funding Sources	TxDOT's cost: State Highway Fund (all revenues dedicated or appropriated to the purposes of TxDOT) NTTA Concession financing: Special Projects System Revenue Bonds - $674.3 million TIFIA Direct Loan - $418.4 million (to refund taxable bond anticipation notes (BANs) TIGER I TIFIA Payment - $9.1 million (for subsidy/administrative costs) Equity contribution - $72.5 million
Project Delivery / Contract Method	Phases 1, 2, and 3: Design-bid-build Phase 4: Design-build
Project Partner	None
Project Advisors / Consultants	Special Projects System Revenue Bonds/BANs underwriting syndicate: Citi, Barclays Capital, Estrada Hinojosa & Co., Loop Capital Markets, Morgan Keegan & Co., Morgan Stanley, and Ramirez & Co. NTTA Financial Advisor RBC Capital Markets USDOT TIFIA JPO Advisors TIFIA Legal Advisor: Baker Botts, LLP TIFIA Financial Advisor: Infrastructure Management Group
Lenders	Bondholders, USDOT TIFIA
Duration / Status	Phases 1 and 2 open August 2009 Phase 3 open April 2010 Phase 4 expected completion October 2012
TIFIA Credit Assistance	Direct loan: $418.4 million The TIFIA loan will be repaid with project revenues, which include all income, tolls, revenues, rates, fees, charges, rentals, or other receipts derived by or related to the operation of the Project. The TIFIA loan is further secured by the provisions of the Toll Equity Loan Agreement between NTTA and TxDOT.
Financial Status/Financial Performance	TIFIA credit agreement executed on April 15, 2011. Financial close for the Special Projects System Revenue Bonds and BANs occurred on April 21, 2011.
Innovations	The PGBT WE will become part of the NTTA's Special Projects System, separate from the NTTA system as a whole, where the toll revenue bonds issued under the Special Project System Trust Agreement, including the TIFIA loan, will be secured additionally by the Toll Equity Loan Agreement (TELA). Under the TELA, TxDOT has agreed to lend to the project from the State Highway Fund 006 (motor fuel tax revenues) a negotiated amount each year should revenues be insufficient to cover operations and maintenance, including debt service. The TELA may also include, subject to financial review and acceptance, the Southwest Parkway/Chisholm Trail Parkway (SWP/CT) project currently in design and environmental review, to be built southwest of Fort Worth. If approved, only the PGBT WE and SWP/CT projects will be part of the Special Projects System additionally secured by the TELA.
Related Links / Articles	NTTA Progress Report Bond Buyer Article - March 23, 2011 Texas Transportation Commission Minute Order [PDF]
Contacts	Paul Alsina, P.E. 5900 W. Plano Parkway, Suite 800 Plano, TX 75093 Tel. (972) 628-3116 pgbtwe@ntta.org