Haslet council authorizes city administrator as point of contact to pursue both short and long bridge options

The Haslet City Council unanimously voted March 30 to designate the city administrator as the city’s single point of contact for the North Central Texas Council of Governments and TxDOT as the city pursues both a short grade‑separation and a long‑bridge option to complete Haslet Parkway.

Michael Morris, director of transportation at the North Central Texas Council of Governments, told the council the original federal build grant work on Haslet Parkway left a punch list and that an updated, comprehensive inventory of outstanding design and construction needs is required before the city and RTC finalize any new advanced funding agreement. “I applaud the effort, just not comprehensive enough for what I need,” Morris said, urging the city to assemble plans, a current punch list and all necessary documents so RTC staff can seek funding and protect prior commitments to Haslet.

Morris offered RTC assistance, naming Jeff Neal as the staff liaison his office would assign to help prepare grant applications and the inventory of outstanding work. He said the RTC supports a dual path: pursue the Chrissy/Christie (federal) grant channel for a long bridge while advancing the short‑bridge grade separation effort that already has funding elements in place. “The best way to move forward is to advance both procedures,” Morris said.

Council members asked whether the short bridge would avoid a lengthy NEPA review and whether federal funding was at risk. Morris answered that the RTC’s money was not at risk and emphasized the need for careful sequencing to avoid “throwaway projects” and avoid losing funds to inflation. He emphasized TxDOT remains the implementing agency and that the rail, bridge and district offices have distinct roles.

Council member (speaker 3) moved that the city authorize the administrator to act as the single point of contact, provide Morris’s office with all requested documents, and pursue the short and long bridge tracks in parallel; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously. The council asked staff to draft a resolution formalizing the request to the RTC.

The council also voted to direct the city engineer and consultants to complete remaining Haslet Parkway plans and to coordinate with TxDOT on outstanding items, and added that the administrator should be kept updated on progress. That motion likewise passed unanimously.

What happens next: the city will provide the RTC and TxDOT with existing plans, punch‑list items and other documentation. RTC staff said they will return with a clear inventory and funding recommendations and can help prepare grant applications for the long‑bridge program while supporting short‑bridge construction where possible.