Dallas Horseshoe Project NEWSLETTER Volume 3 • Winter 2014 Construction Progresses into the New Year View of downtown Dallas and Interstate 35E with new bridge structures visible along the highway (bottom right). Signs of construction and progress on the Dallas Horseshoe help minimize traffic impacts created by the project. The Project are becoming more evident on the roadways. Drivers along construction crews are working to build the new structures interstates 30 and 35E can now see cranes and bridge columns first, working from the outside in. Once the new structures rising along the existing highway structures, joining the Dallas skyline. are complete, traffic will be moved onto the newly built The $798 million design-build highway construction project frontage roads and work will begin on the demolition of by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) broke the existing bridges and lanes, and construction of the new ground in April 2013 and construction started shortly after to mainlane bridges. improve traffic flow through the heart of downtown Dallas and This four-year project, expected to be complete by summer the Mixmaster. 2017, includes the construction of the signature Santiago Initial project construction has focused on building frontage Calatrava-designed, Margaret McDermott Bridge over I-30. roads and bridge areas outside of existing mainlanes to Continued on Page 2 www.dallashorseshoe.com 1 Inside This Issue “Construction Progresses” continued from Page 1 In addition to increasing lanes and adding frontage roads Construction Progresses into the New Year ........................1 on bridges over the Trinity River, the new structures will be built 10 to 12 feet higher to allow for raising of the levees Stay Connected On-the-Go with the Dallas Horseshoe in the future and for a potential travel clearance on top of Project Mobile App .............................................................................2 the levee. Dallas Horseshoe Project’s Heavy Highway Training As part of the construction, the eastbound I-30 Commerce Program Gets Down to Business ................................................3 Street exit ramp temporarily closed during the month of At a Glance ..............................................................................................3 December and is scheduled to reopen in time for the Quest for Success Awards Honors Dallas Horseshoe NCAA Final Four tournament in April 2014. As Dallas Project DBE Contractors .................................................................4 hosts one of the biggest sporting events in the nation, this ramp will reopen, giving drivers access back to the I-30 One-on-One Meetings......................................................................4 Commerce Street exit. DBE Program Contacts.....................................................................4 Another change along the roadway is the relocation of the DBE Spotlight: Mas-Tek Engineering & Associates .............5 Eighth Street on-ramp to northbound I-35E, which has been moved a few hundred feet to the north of its original location Procurement Schedule ......................................................................5 to improve the flow of traffic on the highway. PLC Raises Funds for Dallas Children’s Advocacy To help keep drivers and stakeholders up-to-date about Center .........................................................................................................6 closures, the project team has created numerous ways to Media Contact ........................................................................................6 communicate information. Please see Page 7 for ways to Connect with Us ...................................................................................7 connect with the project. Stay Connected On-the-Go with the Dallas Horseshoe Project Mobile App Interested in learning about the Dallas Horseshoe Project on-the-go? There’s an app for that! “There’s an app for that,” first coined back when Apple released the iPhone 3GS in 2009 as part of their advertising campaign, now applies to heavy highway projects. The Dallas Horseshoe Project now has mobile apps available on Apple iTunes (iPhone, iPad and iPod) and Android Google Play stores. The mobile app is easy to navigate and has up-to-date project information in three different categories. Viewers are able to see current travel conditions through Google Maps and receive navigation help from the link. Up-to-date lane closures with maps (if applicable) and a list of project events are also available. The app allows users to send emails to the project team and dial the project hotline (214-Fix-MixD/214-349-6493) by selecting the hotline button without having to dial the number. The app also provides links to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) website, as well as to other projects in the area. Download the app for Apple and Android smart phones and tablets today. The Blackberry app will be available in the near future. Please do not use the mobile app while driving, as per the disclaimer when you open the app from your device. 2 www.dallashorseshoe.com Dallas Horseshoe Project’s Heavy Highway Training Program Gets Down to Business Over 50 attendees joined the Pegasus Link Constructors (PLC) Project Team for the second Heavy Highway Training Program on Jan. 23 at the Dallas/Fort Worth Minority Supplier Development Council offices. This second meeting of the eight- session training program featured Martha Arnold from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), covering the topic of “DBE Programs with TxDOT.” Created to help Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) firms interested in contract work on heavy highway projects, the Heavy Highway Training Program covers a variety of topics aimed at helping DBE firms grow their size and capacity. The program began with a kick-off meeting on Dec. 5 and the previous session covered the topic of “How to do Business on Heavy Highway Projects” on Dec. 19. “An essential part of the Dallas Horseshoe Project’s DBE Program is not only to employ diverse firms on this project, but aid in their success on future projects,” said Ruben Landa, DBE Administrator for the Dallas Horseshoe Project. “We were especially lucky to have Martha Arnold come to speak to attendees at the second training session. Events like this truly showcase the strong partnership of DBEs and TxDOT.” Six future training sessions have been outlined as part of the program including topics such as peer partnerships, marketing and business development, and safety and security. “We hand-picked a variety of topics that relate to all businesses, no matter what the size, and chose industry professionals to lead each session who can provide real work experience and advice,” said Landa. For more information on the program or to register for the next session, contact Ruben Landa at [email protected]. TOP: Martha Arnold, Business Development Section Director for the Texas Department of Transportation’s Office of Civil Rights, At a Glance speaks at the Pegasus Link Constructor’s second Heavy Highway Training Program on DBE firms involved in the project Jan. 23 to over 50 attendees. Including KYSU Group, STL and Cowboy Trucking 35 BOTTOM: Members from Pegasus Link Constructors (PLC) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) One-on-One Meet & Greets pose for a picture during the second session of the Heavy Highway Training conducted as of February 2014 123 Program. (from left to right) Ruben Landa (PLC), Martha Arnold (TxDOT), Trena Brand (TxDOT), Adrienne Williams (PLC) and Public Outreach events Noraima Parez (TxDOT). participated in, including the RHCA, GDHCC and 41 H-PAC Regional Legislative Symposium www.dallashorseshoe.com 3 Quest for Success Awards Honors Dallas Horseshoe Project DBE Contractors In 1985, the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce (DBCC) This year’s luncheon on Feb. 5 marked the 30th awards luncheon established the Quest for Success Awards Luncheon to and celebrated several honorees, two of which are currently recognize African American entrepreneurs in the Dallas/Fort Disadvantaged Business Enterprise contractors for the Dallas Worth area for their business achievements and services to the Horseshoe Project. community. Since then 29 luncheons have been held annually to The first honoree, Chris M. Adams, president/CEO of Brooklyn recognize black entrepreneurs working to cultivate the growth Sweeps, Inc., was recognized for both his leadership and and development of their respective fields and businesses. his company. Brooklyn Sweeps provides full-service street sweeping including parking lot, subdivision, construction site and highway sweeping as well as debris removal. The company, named after Adams’ daughter, has 10 employees with operations in Texas, Colorado and Arizona. The company is a professional service DBE firm contracted for the Dallas Horseshoe Project to remove debris off the project corridor along interstates 30 and 35E in downtown Dallas in the Mixmaster. The second honoree, Stephen Mason, president of Mas-Tek Engineering & Associates, (featured in the DBE Spotlight) was honored for his firm’s services to the construction industry for materials testing. Please see Page 5 for Mason’s story of overcoming economic challenges, a family tragedy and stepping up to an executive leadership role at the age of 21. Hosted by John McCaa of WFAA, the Dallas/Fort Worth affiliate of ABC, the luncheon honored a total of nine influential and talented individuals for their