The North Texas Tollway Authority Board on Oct. 8 approved an 11-year lease for a new roadway operations facility in Fort Worth and authorized an extension of the existing location while staff completes the build-out.

Roadway operations and property staff presented the search and selection. The proposed site at 2351 Southeast Loop 820 is an existing former car-dealership property with 25,000 square feet of building area on about 6.4 acres. NTTA staff said the site met search criteria including oversized secured parking, proximity to Chisholm Trail Parkway and accessibility to western-extension corridors.

Eric Hampell (Roadway Operations) and Omidy/Meshkani (real estate/lease presenters) told the board the building will require a full-scale renovation to provide NTTA offices, maintenance support, secure vehicle storage and separate space for Texas DPS troopers. Construction costs were estimated at roughly $7.5 million; staff said it would bring a future action request for design and construction funding once design is complete. The proposed lease term is 11 years with three five-year renewal options and a first right of refusal to purchase; staff recommended approval in an amount not to exceed $6,191,849 (lease payments over the initial term, per presentation).

Staff described a phased rent structure to accommodate construction and early occupancy: the lease includes months with reduced rent (first months free, month 3 through month 20 at half rent) to offset construction timing; staff told the board the published “average” base rent of about $19/sq ft reflects that early-period concession. Board members asked for year-by-year rent schedules and clarity on amortized tenant improvements; staff committed to providing that detail. The board approved the lease by unanimous vote.

NTTA said this facility is intended to reduce long transport distances for out-of-service vehicles (staff said earlier trips can be as long as 50 miles one way to the current site), centralize fleet services and provide secure parking and operational capacity for future western system growth.

Staff estimated the total program cost (lease plus renovations) at roughly $13.14 million when the renovation and other project costs are included; final design and construction funding requests will be brought to the board for approval when plans are complete.