Grapevine — Rail project moves forward

The TEX Rail, a proposed commuter rail line between Fort Worth and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, received the green light from the Federal Transit Administration to enter preliminary engineering on March 27.

The process will require information about the cost estimate, financial plan, final project scope, and identification of all environmental impacts and their mitigation, according to the FTA.

"To The T and its funding partners and all the residents who want to have direct access to the airport, going into and out of Fort Worth, Grapevine and Tarrant County, it is going to be a very welcome alternative and option to highway travel," said Joan Hunter, a spokeswoman for The T, which is in charge of the project.

Before construction can begin, The T will need to complete preliminary engineering for the project, gain approval to enter into final design and receive the FTA's final approval for a full-funding grant agreement.

"The T has commitment for 50 percent of local match of the rail's projected $758 million cost through its funding partners," Hunter said.

Grapevine already purchased land at the corner of Dallas and South Main streets in anticipation of the rail station. Officials hope the line will be in service by 2016.

"It is a great next step and something we are very excited about," Grapevine City Manager Bruno Rumbelow said. "The voters approved commuter rail in 2006 in Grapevine by a wide margin, so commuter rail is something that is embraced and eagerly awaited in Grapevine."

For more information about TEX Rail, visit www.texrail.com.

Southlake — City considers LED lights

High-pressure sodium light bulbs can be found in pedestrian lamps around Southlake Town Square. The city is considering switching to light emitting diode, or LED, lights for potential energy and cost savings.

The Southlake City Council during its March 20 work session discussed amending its lighting ordinance to allow LED lighting to be used in outside wall lighting fixtures and light poles over 42 inches.

The city's current ordinance only allows LED lights to be used if they produce a similar lighting effect as high-pressure sodium, said Ken Baker, the city's planning and development services director.

Baker said studies show LED lights have a longer lifespan, producing 70,000 hours compared to high pressure sodium's 24,000 hours. Switching to LED would also provide safety in dark areas, he said.

"Studies have shown that a majority of crimes like assaults and burglaries are committed in poorly lit or unlit areas," Baker said. "LED lights helps to contribute to a social feeling of safety and the prevention of crime as it allows people to recognize faces and true colors more easily."

Deputy mayor pro-tem Pamela Muller liked the idea of energy savings, but recommended caution.

"Depending on where the lights are purchased, some cities have invested a lot of money hoping they would save and it ends up the light fixtures did not last as long as they expected," she said.

Proposed amendments to the ordinance are scheduled for consideration at a Southlake Program for the Involvement of Neighborhoods (SPIN) meeting on Monday, April 23. The amendments and recommedations will later go before the Southlake City Council.

Colleyville — Chesapeake Energy plans seismic study in city

A convoy of specialized trucks escorted by off-duty area police officers will be spotted around the western part of Colleyville this month. The city approved a seismic survey permit for Dawson Geophysical in early April. Fort Worth–based Chesapeake Energy has contracted Dawson Geophysical to conduct a seismic survey around Colleyville as part of a regional survey that includes Keller, Hurst and North Richland Hills. The survey is expected to finish before the end of April. The trucks will use sound technology to map out the presence of natural gas under the road surface beneath Colleyville from west of Pleasant Run Road to the city's southern border. The city anticipates minimal traffic and noise impact, Colleyville spokeswoman Mona Gandy said.

Westlake — Town mulls Westlake Academy expansion

Westlake Academy serves more than 500 kindergarten through 12th-grade students. During its March 26 meeting, the Westlake Town Council considered an expansion of its public charter school to accommodate future student enrollment growth.

"Now the Council has been weighing that decision, but doing so very carefully in that we do not overextend our finances by building these capital buildings — they are very, very cognizant of that," Westlake spokeswoman Ginger Awtry said.

The Westlake Town Council in March authorized hiring Westlake Academy's original architect to prepare a facilities master plan for the school. The council awarded an estimated $35,000 contract, which includes reimbursable expenses, to Fort Worth–based design firm Bennett-Benner-Pettit.

Michael Bennett, Bennett-Benner-Pettit's CEO, said his firm will collect and review information, then produce a facilities master plan and capital improvement plan, which will take at least three months to complete. The study will help the town to plan financially for a possible expansion, he said.

"The town had a study done by a firm recently to look at options for expanding the school and so what we are going to do is take that information, analyze that and develop it into a strategy for the school," Bennett said. "We are going to determine what buildings they need to support their student growth."