Res 042-2001 4/17/2001RESOLUTION NO. 1- 1W
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WICHITA
FALLS REQUESTING THE COMPLETION OF KELL FREEWAY (US
82/277) AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE US 82/277/287
INTERCHANGE; FINDING AND DETERMINING THAT THE MEETING
AT WHICH THIS RESOLUTION WAS PASSED WAS OPEN TO THE
PUBLIC AS REQUIRED BY LAW.
WHEREAS, since 1964 the City of Wichita Falls and TxDOT have been partners
in extending US 82 to provide unrestricted traffic movement through Wichita Falls and
to connect this highway with US 287; and
WHEREAS, in 1967 the City of Wichita Falls participated in 50 percent of the
cost of rights -of -way acquisition that would facilitate the construction of Kell Freeway,
providing improved connection of US 82 with US 287; and
WHEREAS, US 82 has received the concurrent designation of US 82/277; and
WHEREAS, by Minute Order 107950 dated September 30, 1999, the Texas
Transportation Commission designated US 277 between Wichita Falls and Abilene as a
Phase I Priority Corridor and authorized funding of $55.8 million to construct a four -
lane, divided highway in the Wichita Falls District intended to serve the needs of the
State by reducing freight travel times, mitigating air quality issues in non - attainment
areas, and providing increased regional economic possibilities associated with such
action where such would directly link with US 82/277 and US 287; and
WHEREAS, by Minute Order 107689 dated November 19, 1998, the Texas
Transportation Commission awarded funding of the US 287 overhead thereby enabling
construction; and
WHEREAS, the construction of the US 287 overhead is ahead of schedule and
approximately 90 percent complete on the date of this Resolution with the remaining
section of main lanes scheduled to open to traffic in June 2001; and
WHEREAS, by Minute Order 108417 dated January 25, 2001, the Texas
Transportation Commission authorized as Priority 1 the further extension of a section of
main lanes for US 82/277; and
WHEREAS, the completion of the US 287 overhead, and the further extension of
a section of the US 82/277 main lanes currently under construction, has created a
situation where the needs of the State will not be addressed unless the Texas
Transportation Commission authorizes the completion of the unfunded section of US
82/277 and the connection of this highway with the US 287 overhead via a four -
direction interchange, thereby creating a situation to provide uninterrupted movement of
traffic between 1 -20 in Abilene and 1 -44 in Wichita Falls; and
WHEREAS, the Wichita Falls Metropolitan Planning Organization has committed
$5 million in Category 4D funding toward the construction of the interchange that has
been estimated at $13.5 million and $4 million in Category 4D toward the construction
of the remaining section of US 82/277 that has been estimated at $12.3 million.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, THAT:
SECTION 1. The City Council of the City of Wichita Falls hereby requests that
the Texas Transportation Commission join with the committed funding by the Wichita
Falls Metropolitan Planning Organization and award the funding necessary to complete
the construction of main lanes associated with US 82/277.
SECTION 2. The City Council hereby requests that the Texas Transportation
Commission join with the committed funding by the Metropolitan Planning Organization
and award the funding necessary to construct the interchange connection between US
82/277 and the US 287 overhead.
SECTION 3. It is hereby officially found and determined that the meeting at
which this resolution was passed was open to the public as required by law.
PASSED AND APPROVED this the 17th day of April 2001.
AYOR
ATTEST: