NTTA approves term sheet with Grayson County RMA for Dallas North Tollway extension

The North Texas Tollway Authority Board of Directors on Aug. 20 approved a final term sheet with the Grayson County Regional Mobility Authority (GCRMA) for development of the Dallas North Tollway extension (5A) from the DNT’s current terminus near County Road 60 to FM 121 — approximately five miles.

Key terms: under the term sheet NTTA will develop, plan, design, construct, finance, own, operate and maintain the DNT main lanes to NTTA standards when feasible. Grayson County RMA will own and operate the frontage roads and provide the right‑of‑way to NTTA for the project. Construction must commence within 11 years or rights revert under negotiated terms. Once tolling begins, net revenue after project costs, operations and financing is shared 50/50 with GCRMA; tolling services will be allocated on a ratio basis to the NTTA system.

Primacy and local coordination: NTTA confirmed Grayson County primacy on toll roads in Grayson County other than the 5A segment; the term sheet states NTTA will support Grayson County primacy and that GCRMA will receive net revenues from other Grayson County toll roads if primacy issues arise.

Board action and next steps: staff said Grayson County had approved the agreement at its July meeting; NTTA staff recommended approval and the board voted unanimously to approve the term sheet. Staff will continue negotiations and return with final project agreements and details as the project advances through planning, design and financing steps.

Context: the extension is part of NTTA’s system expansion planning and requires interagency coordination on right‑of‑way, financing and operations. The agreement preserves a split of operational responsibilities—NTTA for tolled main lanes and GCRMA for frontage roads—and establishes a framework for revenue sharing and long‑term cooperation.