Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-01-14 Euless Articles FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Robert Hinkle, NTE Mobility Partners (682) 334-5481 rhinkle@northtarrantexpress.com NORTH TARRANT EXPRESS REFINANCING COMPLETED NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas – December 17, 2019 – On December 17, NTE Mobility Partners (NTEMP), the company operating the North Tarrant Express project in Northeast Tarrant County, successfully completed the transaction to refinance the original debt issued in 2009 for the construction of the project. The strong performance of the managed lanes since they opened to traffic in October 2014, together with the current terms of the bond markets made the refinancing of the original debt a reality. The transaction included the issuance of $331.8M of new Private Activity Bonds (PABs), sold at premium for a total proceeds amount of $400M, and $871.1M of additional taxable bonds. The use of the proceeds serves to refinance the original PABs and pre-pay in full the original TIFIA loan from 2009. Under the terms of the concession agreement, the Company pays to TxDOT $23M upon the implementation of this new financial structure. The 13.3-mile North Tarrant Express (NTE), a $2.5 billion highway reconstruction project, has been fully operational since 2014. “The data from the first five years of the North Tarrant Express has proven managed lanes work,” explained NTE Mobility Partners CEO, Alberto Gonzalez. “By managing a portion of the new lanes along Loop 820 and Airport Freeway, there is less congestion resulting in increased traffic flow, even during peak times.” In addition to enhancing the corridor and improving mobility for drivers, the project has attracted new businesses to the areas abutting the project. “Mobility directly impacts economic development; with more reliable travel times, greater road capacity and increased access, cities and communities along the NTE have seen increased interests from businesses and developers,” said Gonzalez. The NTE project nearly doubled the road capacity with the addition of TEXpress lanes throughout the length of the corridor. Drivers have the option to travel along the newly rebuilt general highway lanes and frontage roads, at no charge, or enter the TEXpress Lanes. TEXpress lanes are variable tolled lanes, adjusting costs per vehicle to maintain a minimum speed of 50 mph. “The collaborative efforts of North Central Council of Governments, its Regional Transportation Council, TxDOT and the NTTA, created a network of toll lanes and TEXpress “managed” Lanes giving drivers an expanded range of options to navigate traffic in North Texas,” explained Gonzalez. ### NTE Mobility Partners LLC is made up of Cintra US and Meridiam About Cintra US With US headquarters in Austin, Texas, Cintra is the leading private-sector transportation infrastructure company in the world, with experience spanning over 50 years of innovative highway development on four continents. Today, its portfolio includes over 900 miles of managed highways globally, representing a total global investment in roadway improvements of over $21 billion. Cintra manages over $9 billion of infrastructure projects in the United States and more than $4.7 billion of infrastructure projects in Canada. In Texas alone, Cintra led partnerships have helped the state leverage limited public resources to create more than $7 billion in major new infrastructure improvements, added thousands of local Texas jobs, and contributed to the long-term economic development success of the state. About Meridiam Meridiam was founded in 2005 by Thierry Déau, with the belief that the alignment of interests between the public and private sector can provide critical solutions to the collective needs of communities. Meridiam is an independent investment firm specializing in the development, financing, and management of long-term and sustainable public infrastructure projects in three key sectors: mobility of people and goods, energy transition and environment, social infrastructure. With offices in, Addis Ababa, Amman, Dakar, Istanbul, New York, Luxembourg, Paris, Toronto and, Vienna, Meridiam currently manages 7 billion Euros of assets, and more than 70 projects and assets to date. Meridiam is certified ISO 9001: 2015, ISO 26000 Robust by VigeoEiris and operates on a proprietary methodology in relation to ESG and impact based on UNSDGs. www.meridiam.com TARRANT COUNTY GETS APPROVAL FOR COUNTYWIDE VOTE CENTERS News release date: December 30, 2020 The Texas Secretary of State has permanently approved countywide vote centers for Tarrant County. Countywide vote centers allow voters to cast ballots at any polling place on Election Day. It was first tried in the Nov. 5, 2019 election when more than 50 percent of voters cast their ballots at a polling place other than their own precinct. “Based on our review of Tarrant County’s reports and public comments, we hereby certify that Tarrant County conducted a successful countywide polling place program in the November 2019 election,” said the Secretary of State’s Director of Elections Keith Ingram in a letter to Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley. “As a result, Tarrant County is authorized to continue to hold its elections using countywide polling places subject to the approval of county commissioners court,” Ingram said. For a constitutional amendment election in Tarrant County, voter turnout was at its highest level since 2005. Early voting for the March 3 Texas primary election begins on Feb. 18. Tru by Hilton Euless DFW Airport West and Home2 Suites by Hilton Euless DFW Airport West Euless Welcomes Newest Dual-Branded Hotel December 30, 2019 Two of Hilton's (NYSE: HLT) innovative hotel brands, Tru by Hilton and Home2 Suites by Hilton, today announced the opening of their latest properties, the dual-branded Tru by Hilton Euless DFW Airport West and Home2 Suites by Hilton Euless DFW Airport West. The 173-room dual-branded hotel, with 79 Tru by Hilton rooms and 94 Home2 Suites by Hilton suites, is located at 2570 State Hwy 121 in Euless, Texas and is owned and managed by ICON Lodging. The new hotel is conveniently located near Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Glade Parks Shopping Center and Historic Grapevine. Tru by Hilton promises guests a simplified and spirited stay, rooted in value. Developed from the ground up using consumer and owner feedback, Tru by Hilton is a revolutionary brand with a cross-generational appeal for travelers looking for a new, affordable hotel experience. Tru by Hilton Euless DFW Airport West features the amenities and experiences that matter most to guests, including comfortable beds; more efficiently designed rooms with a mobile desk; large bathrooms with premium bath amenities; top-rate in-room entertainment; a complimentary build-your-own "Top It" breakfast bar with healthy, sweet and savory items; a spacious lobby with areas for guests to work, play games, eat and lounge; along with a 24/7 "Eat. & Sip." market with gourmet snacks and drinks. The hotel experience is enabled by technology, including mobile check-in, Digital Key, super-fast free WiFi, remote printing, a social media wall, lobby tablets and accessibility to outlets everywhere. Additionally, Tru by Hilton properties offer fitness centers that leverage the latest fitness trends, including barre, TRX bands, free weights, cardio and flexibility gear. Home2 Suites by Hilton Euless DFW Airport West offers all-suite accommodations with fully-accessorized kitchens and modular furniture, providing guests the flexibility to customize their suite to their style and preference. The hotel features complimentary Internet, inviting communal spaces, and trademark Home2 Suites amenities such as Spin2 Cycle, a combined laundry and fitness area, Home2 MKT for grab-and-go items, and the Inspired Table, a complimentary daily breakfast that includes more than 400 potential combinations. Guests can enjoy an outdoor pool, fire pit and grill area. Home2 Suites by Hilton Euless DFW Airport West is pet friendly. Home2 Suites by Hilton, one of the fastest-growing brands in Hilton’s history, is a mid-tier, all-suite, award-winning extended-stay hotel concept designed to offer stylish accommodations with flexible guest room configurations and inspired amenities for the cost-conscious guest. Tru by Hilton is a game-changing midscale hotel brand providing a simplified and spirited approach that is grounded in value for business and leisure travelers. The brand is modern and functional, offering social connectivity with reimagined public spaces, including an open lobby comprised of four areas where guests can work, play, lounge, and eat. Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 17 world-class brands comprising nearly 6,000 properties with more than 954,000 rooms, in 117 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its mission to be the world’s most hospitable company, Hilton earned a spot on the 2019 World’s Best Workplaces list, and has welcomed more than 3 billion guests in its 100-year history. The Shops at Vineyard Village in Euless will finally be complete with more retail BY CARLA JIMENEZ JANUARY 02, 2020 01:56 PM Euless is getting even more retail and restaurant development. For years, the Shops at Vineyard Village along State Highway 121 had one undeveloped pad site left open at 2700 State Highway 121, right next to the IHOP. But soon there will be a new 10,125 square-foot building for retail. According to the plans for the building, the space will be divisible for up to three tenants, though no word yet on who will occupy the space. This final build out of the Shops at Vineyard Village is the latest in the massive amount of retail and restaurant development along 121 in the past few years. Across the highway from Vineyard Village is the huge Shops at Glade Park development that is also entering the final phase of construction. The Euless City Council approved the plans in November, though no timeline has been set for construction. This is the final lot for the Shops at Vineyard village, and construction is set for a building for retail and restaurant at the site. GOOGLE MAPS CONTACT: Bridget Lenhardt 817-860-1860 – o 314-882-4972 – c FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Nine Area Mayors Compete to Raise Over $134,000 for The Salvation Army of Arlington-Mansfield (December 30, 2019) – The annual Mayoral Red Kettle Challenge to support The Salvation Army of Arlington-Mansfield took place on Saturday, December 14, between Mayor Jeff Williams (Arlington), Mayor David L. Cook (Mansfield), Mayor Laurie Bianco (Dalworthington Gardens), Mayor Michael Boyter (Bedford), Mayor Doug Davis (Pantego), Mayor Richard Newton (Colleyville), Mayor Brian Johnson (Kennedale), Mayor Linda Martin (Euless), and Mayor Henry Wilson (Hurst). Each mayor rang a bell that day at a Salvation Army red kettle stand located at a business in their city. The friendly competition raised over $134,361.10 to help support programs and services provided by The Salvation Army of Arlington-Mansfield, including a transitional homeless shelter for families, and the Gene and Jerry Jones Family North Texas Youth Education Town (YET), which provides quality youth programming for children in need. Mansfield Mayor David Cook took first place overall raising $100,165.11. Mayor Laurie Bianco as the per-capita winner, raising the most money based on population ($10,557.38). Mayor Richard Newton of Colleyville was named Rookie-of-the-Year, coming in at $6,366.04 in his first year. Here’s a tally of the rankings in the overall competition: 1. Mansfield - Mayor David L. Cook $100,165.11 2. Arlington - Mayor Jeff Williams $12,348.15 3. Dalworthington Gardens - Mayor Laurie Bianco $10,557.38 4. Colleyville – Mayor Richard Newton $6,366.04 5. Pantego - Mayor Doug Davis $1,943.15 6. Euless – Mayor Linda Martin $1,108.25 7. Bedford - Mayor Michael Boyter $798.28 8. Hurst - Mayor Henry Wilson $673.72 9. Kennedale – Mayor Brian Johnson $401.02 "We are extremely grateful to the many wonderful city leaders in our communities who participated in the 2019 Mayoral Red Kettle Challenge,” said Lt. Timothy Israel, Corps Officer at The Salvation Army of Arlington-Mansfield. “The mayors, businesses, and organizations came together to raise critically needed funds to help serve those in need." # # # Colleyville teen accused in series of robberies found dead in home after standoff BY DOMINGO RAMIREZ JR. JANUARY 10, 2020 10:13 AM FORT WORTH A 16-year-old Colleyville boy who was one of several juveniles accused in a series of holdups at a Euless convenience store was found dead Thursday in his home, Euless police said. An investigation of the Euless robberies led to a home in northwest Colleyville on Thursday afternoon, but the teen barricaded himself within the residence. SWAT team members and negotiators responded to the scene. An adult stepped out of the residence, but the teen kept authorities at bay for several hours, police said. At some point Thursday night, police entered the home and found the 16-year-old dead from apparently self-inflicted wounds. “This is not the way we wanted this to end,” said Euless police Lt. Brenda Alvarado in a telephone interview with Fort Worth Star-Telegram on Friday. The name of the suspect is not being released because he was a juvenile. Euless police said Friday two other juvenile males accused in the holdups have been identified. The juveniles were suspects in three aggravated robberies at the 7-Eleven at 2390 Fuller Wise Road in Euless. In each holdup, one of the juveniles was armed with a handgun. No injuries were reported in the robberies. Euless police said Friday the weapon used in the holdups had been recovered. The first robbery was reported on Nov. 10 at the Euless store, the second was on Nov. 17, and the last one occurred on Dec. 31. Detectives believed the suspects were juveniles because of their pitch of their voices. Taco Cabana Closing 19 Restaurants, Including Lower Greenville Location Restaurants to close immediately after losing millions in 2019, company says By Frank Heinz • Published January 13, 2020 • Updated at 3:47 am on January 14, 2020 NBC 5 News Taco Cabana's parent company, Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc., says they are immediately shutting down 19 of their 164 restaurants in Texas, including eight in Dallas-Fort Worth. The company said the 19 restaurants were underperforming and that while they contributed to approximately $24.5 million in earnings they also had $4.2 million in pre-tax operating losses, including $2 million in depreciation expense, in 2019. Fiesta said the following restaurants will close immediately, including the one in Dallas along Greenville Avenue where the iconic Tango Frogs are installed on the roof. The future of the Tango Frogs is not yet known. • 810 W. Stacy Road, Allen • 1827 Greenville Avenue, Dallas • 2220 South Loop 288, Denton • 5350 Preston Road, Frisco • 11560 Dallas Parkway, Frisco • 7105 Interstate 30, Greenville • 1495 Precinct Line Road, Hurst • 5036 Rufe Snow, North Richland Hills NBC 5 News Four of seven Tango Frogs installed on the roof of the Taco Cabana at 1827 Greenville Avenue. The huge frogs were re-installed at the location in 2014 after decades elsewhere. The closures, the company said, eliminates all stores with significant losses and will serve to boost the group's overall portfolio. The restaurant group said nearly all employees impacted by the closures will be offered positions at other Taco Cabana locations. Fiesta President and CEO Richard Stockinger said the move was is part of a plan to improve margins by 200 to 300 basis points for 2020 vs 2019. In addition to the closures, the plan includes efficiency initiatives at operations across food and beverage expense catagories. "We continue to make progress on sales building initiatives across both Pollo Tropical and Taco Cabana in off premise sales, including catering, online and delivery. In addition, as our new senior management team enters their first full year together, we are optimistic about improving comparable restaurant sales at both brands in 2020." There are more closures in the Dallas area than anywhere else in the state. After the eight restaurants close there will be 38 remaining in North Texas and 145 state wide. The other 11 locations closing around Texas are listed below. • 8620 Burnet Road, Austin • 701 Texas Avenue, College Station • 6522 Westheimer Road, Houston • 13480 Northwest Freeway, Houston • 9220 Gulf Freeway, Houston • 12518 Tomball Parkway, Houston • 2535 South Highway 6, Houston • Highway 288 and This Way Street, Lake Jackson • 6867 W. US Highway 90, San Antonio • 11701 Blanco Road, San Antonio • 825 S. 6th Street, Waco After the closures, there will be 37 remaining locations in Houston, 37 in San Antonio, 24 in Austin, seven in El Paso and two in Waco/Temple/Bryan-College Station.