Thursday, March 28, 2024

Connecting Infrastructure: Fuel Farm Water Line Extension

Quality infrastructure is the foundation of a strong, healthy and vibrant community. As Southlake continues to grow, so will the need for infrastructure access, maintenance and replacement.

Over the last few months, contractors have been onsite at the Fuel Farm located by Brumlow Avenue and SH 26 for the Fuel Farm Water Extension Capital Improvement Project. The purpose of this project is to extend the existing water main, which ends at Brumlow Avenue, to loop back around to South Kimball traveling through the Fuel Farm industrial area.

These improvements will eliminate the existing dead-end mains by connecting the existing infrastructure with new infrastructure. It will also help improve water quality with better circulation in the water system, as well as provide additional fire protection in the event of an emergency.

Contractors have completed the water line improvements along Brumlow Avenue and additional water line improvements will occur on the Fuel Farm property.

The estimated cost of this project is $1.3 million with an expected completion date of April 2021.

Learn more about this and other CIP projects on our Capital Improvement Projects webpage.

Mobility Capital Improvement Projects

When it comes to Capital Improvement Projects, the City of Southlake has made major progress. The Capital Improvement Program, known as the CIP, is a five-year plan that the City has in place for construction of new or investing in the replacement of the City’s physical assets or infrastructure.

Although the program covers a diverse range of sectors in the following areas: Stormwater, Wastewater and Water Utilities; Mobility projects are at the forefront.

The Mobility Projects, which are also listed in the Southlake 2030 mobility master plan includes, but not limited to the development of sidewalks, trails, parks and thoroughfares.

How patrons navigate through Southlake is a huge contributor to the build out and the future of the City, it is important that projects pertaining to this sector of the CIP meet the goals to enhance mobility.

The City has been diligently working toward completing the projects in a timely manner as well as keeping the public informed of the status. Overtime, one project after another has seen success.

Below is a list of ongoing projects and upcoming projects.

Ongoing Projects

Zena Rucker Connector and Roundabout

White Chapel Widening Project

Upcoming Projects

SH 114 Frontage Roads – Along Dove and Kirkwood. This is a partnership project with TxDOT to extend the westbound of the frontage road to Kirkwood Boulevard.  The construction contract for this project is scheduled to be awarded in Fall 2020.

An interactive CIP map is available on the City’s website.  Visit us online for more information about the Capital Improvement Program and the 2030 Mobility Master Plan.

What is a CIP Project?

The City of Southlake often refers to the Capital Improvement Program when citing projects and infrastructure, such as mobility projects.

The program, often referred to as CIP, is a five-year plan the City has in place for construction of new or investing in the replacement of the City’s physical assets or infrastructure. The City utilizes cash and proceeds from bond sales to fund CIP projects.

With CIP, City staff can budget and identify projects that otherwise cannot be addressed due to funding limitations within the annual operating budget or limited, internal resources or manpower.

When it comes to mobility, this five-year program identifies construction projects identified and prioritized within the Southlake 2030 and Southlake 2035 master plans.

The Mobility 2030 Master Plan includes several citywide plans that prioritize the development of thoroughfares, sidewalks, trails and parks. The recommendations within the plan serve as a guide to the development of CIP projects as well as departmental business plans.

Two major mobility CIP projects currently in progress are the N. White Chapel Widening and Zena Rucker Connector.

Other projects such as the SH 114 Frontage Roads and FM 1938 improvements are managed by the Texas Department of Transportation. The City often partners with TxDOT, contributing to these projects financially, while TxDOT manages and oversees construction.

You can view active and upcoming projects on our interactive CIP map. Find more information about the Capital Improvement Program and the 2030 Mobility Master Plan on our website.

Building Zena Rucker Road

Work on Zena Rucker road has been quietly making progress. Contractors have been on-site pouring concrete and installing rebar for the new sidewalk located on the southside of the roundabout, and new landscaping is also in the works.

Once completed, Zena Rucker Road will connect Matthews Court and Tower Boulevard, with the public artwork display, “Mockingbird Tree,” installed at the  Zena Rucker Road and Tower Boulevard roundabout. The final result will provide east-west connectivity from Byron Nelson Parkway to South Carroll Avenue.

The estimated project cost is $2.1 million.

With the project estimated to be completed by Summer 2020, weather permitting, the City can add this to the list of completed projects within its Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The CIP is in place to support the purchase, construction, or replacement of the City’s physical assets. Examples include projects like the Zena Rucker roundabout and roadway extension.

For updates on this and other Southlake Mobility projects, follow Southlake Mobility on Facebook and visit www.ConnectSouthlake.com

City Acquires Land on East Highland

Twelve and one-half acres of land on East Highland now belongs to the City of Southlake. Nestled between Harbor Chase of Southlake and Abiding Grace Lutheran Church, the City recently closed on the property.

“For now, the land will stay in its current passive state, maybe with a little bit of clean-up of the brush, but we want to work with the Council and the Parks and Recreation Board to determine its best uses,” said Assistant City Manager Ben Thatcher. “In the future, it will likely be considered as part of the updated Southlake 2035 Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan.”

Thatcher noted that as part of the City’s Mobility Master Plan, Kirkwood Boulevard would eventually extend across the western portion of the property. The plan for that project will be part of the Capital Improvement Planning process in the coming years.

The land has been on the market for several years, and under the Council’s direction, it was acquired for just over $3 million with money from the City’s general fund.

Building and Maintaining Southlake – Top Priorities in the FY 2020 Budget

Southlake is a highly functional city and it’s sometimes easy to take that for granted. But it takes work: From water, trash and sewer services to zoning, park maintenance, and traffic management, our engineers are working around the clock to make sure we stay clean, safe and efficient.

One of the City’s tools used to help it stay highly functional is to provide funding for the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects. This five-year program identifies construction projects to implement the Southlake 2030 and Southlake 2035 master plans.

CIP projects provide travel convenience within the city and region and provide attractive and unique open spaces for those who live, work and visit Southlake. These projects also ensure that the City will meet demands for water, sewer and drainage.

Year one of the CIP is called the Capital Budget and allocates dollars to build the identified projects. The $18.7 million Capital Budget helps ensure dependable infrastructure that makes daily life in Southlake better and in FY 2020, will be 100% cash funded.

Building and Maintaining Southlake

Public Works construction projects figure prominently in the FY 2020 budget.

Funds for citywide pathway improvements, like the new sidewalks included in the N. White Chapel widening project, and annual street rehabilitation projects will be provided. Major roadway projects such as intersection improvements at FM 1938 and W. Continental Boulevard and S. Peytonvillle Avenue and Continental Boulevard will kick off in FY 2020 with engineering services. A partnership project with TxDOT and Cities of Southlake and Colleyville to rebuild the bridge that connects Pleasant Run in Colleyville to White Chapel Southlake will also start.

Dollars will also be allocated for improvements to Southlake’s water, sewer and drainage systems. Overall system capacity improvements will be addressed. Drainage improvements on public land near Peytonville Avenue, Raven Bend, W. Highland Street, N. White Chapel Boulevard, Shady Oaks and Florence Road are also funded. The Miron Elevated Storage Tank is set to be repainted in FY 2020 as well.
Southlake engineers and inspectors have the responsibility to design, build and ensure the quality of the City’s infrastructure. Once these items are constructed, crews take on the responsibility of maintaining them.

With more than 296 miles of water distribution pipes, 208 miles of sewer mains, 211 linear miles of city roadways and 174 miles of sidewalks/trails, maintenance responsibilities are significant. And these numbers don’t even account for public drainage ways and associated infrastructure like fire hydrants, meters, valves, manholes and lift stations! The new construction will complement the current infrastructure and makes sure that facilities meet future demand.

Don’t forget about the Parks?

City parks, open space and recreational amenities for all ages are a top priority. The good news is that special funding makes it possible to implement the park master plan in an ongoing and steady timeline. In FY 2020 this means improvements to the Southlake Sports Complex and the barn at the Bob Jones Nature Preserve.
The Southlake Sports Complex project includes field improvements, shade structures, restrooms, a playground, batting cages, trails, parking, and other amenities. Construction will take a few years, things will get started in FY 2020.

While the current barn, built in the 1970s at the Bob Jones Nature Preserve has not been safe to use as classroom space, plans for FY 2020 aim to change that. This CIP includes funds for the City to move forward for improvements.

The City owns or leases 1,197.8 acres of parkland and open space, and is responsible for the maintenance of the property and the related improvements, including 51 practice fields/game facilities, seven playgrounds, 21 tennis courts and 14 pavilions.

The CIP paves the way for ongoing infrastructure development, making sure that Southlake continues to be a premier community in which to live, work and play.
Interested in learning about all of the FY 2020 CIP projects? Visit the FY 2020 Budget page and click on the CIP link at the bottom of the page in the budget documents section to see the entire list.

Capital Improvement Program Defines 2019 Construction Priorities

Each year the budget includes a five-year capital improvement program (CIP), delineating construction projects designed to implement Southlake 2030 and Southlake 2035.

These projects ensure that the City will meet demands for water, sewer, roadway, drainage, and parks as Southlake moves toward build-out. Year One of the CIP is called the capital budget and allocates dollars to build the identified projects.

Proposed FY 2019 Capital Projects Allocated by Project Type

This figure shows the proposed FY 2019 Capital Improvement Program allocation by project type.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Building & Maintaining Southlake’s Public Works Infrastructure

Public Works construction projects figure prominently in the FY 2019 budget.

Funds for construction of Zena Rucker Connector, North White Chapel Boulevard, SH 114 improvements, Kirkwood Boulevard intersection improvements, and landscaping are included in the budget. So are dollars for water quality projects and water lines along SH 114, Kirkwood, and Westpark Circle.

Drainage improvements on public land near Raven Bend, West Highland Street, Simmons Court, Creekside, Florence Road, Kirkwood Branch at White Chapel, and at the TW King Pump Station are also funded. Finally, the budget includes matching funds for the replacement of the South White Chapel Bridge at Bear Creek, to be financed through the Texas Department of Transportation.

Southlake engineers and inspectors have the responsibility to design, build, and ensure the quality of the infrastructure needed to provide water and sewer services, as well as drainage and roadway facilities for public use. And once these items are constructed, crews take on the responsibility of maintaining them.

With more than 296 miles of water distribution pipes, 208 miles of sewer mains, 211 linear miles of city roadways, and 174 miles of sidewalks/trails, maintenance responsibilities are significant. And these numbers don’t even account for public drainage ways and associated infrastructure like fire hydrants, meters, valves, manholes, and lift stations! The new construction will complement the current infrastructure and makes sure that facilities meet future demand.

Public Works Related Capital Improvement Projects

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What About Parks?

City parks, open space, and recreational amenities for all ages are a top priority. The good news is that special funding makes it possible to implement the park master plan in an ongoing and steady timeline.

Champions Club, the newest part of The Marq Southlake, is set to open in December. This project, funded through a special sales tax overseen by the Community Enhancement and Development Corporation, will be a recreation game-changer for the community beginning in 2019.

The City will also begin designing improvements to the Southlake Sports Complex, including fields, building improvements, shade structures, restrooms, a playground, batting cages, trails, parking, and other amenities. Construction will span a few years, but things get started with the new fiscal year.

The team will also turn attention to Central Park (located at the Shops of Southlake) with an eye to improving the functionality of the space and developing plans for future improvements.

The Southlake Parks Development Corporation will fund these improvements with a special sales tax.

The City owns or leases 1,197.8 acres of park land and open space, and is responsible for the maintenance of the property and the related improvements, including 51 practice fields/game facilities, seven playgrounds, 21 tennis courts, and 14 pavilions.

The CIP paves the way for ongoing infrastructure development, making sure that Southlake continues to be a premier community in which to live, work, and play.

Proposed Parks Capital Improvement Projects